Traditions residents complain about high school stadium noise, light
By Karen Cresta, Correspondent, The Times
EAST MARLBOROUGH – All the agenda items needing a vote were approved on Monday night at the township’s Board of Supervisors’ meeting — except for an additional $240 contribution request to help pay for the catering at a scheduled party to thank first responders.
In addition, the board heard from residents regarding complaints about noise emanating from Unionville High School’s public address (PA) system at the stadium during early morning and late night hours.
Shelley Mincer, a resident of Traditions and a liaison for the township and fire companies, stood in front of the board for permission to advertise the event on the township website and requested a contribution to pay for 20 responders’ meals in the amount of $12 a head ($240 total) as additional monies above and beyond the tax funds.
The event serves to thank all first responders of Po-Mar-Lin, Modena and West Bradford Fire Companies and raise awareness to the community to hopefully increase volunteer staff. The event will be held on October 10, from 4-9 p.m., at the ChesLen Preserve in Coatesville. All responders’ meals are free of charge and their families get a reduced rate. The township agreed to promote the event on its Facebook page (not the website since that is for official township business only) but did not agree to a motion to vote on the approval of the additional monies.
Bob Weer responded to the request by informing Mincer that in 2014, per the Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company’s audit, $365,000 was allocated to the fire companies that serve the township and 97% came by the four municipalities (East Marlborough, West Marlborough, Newlin and Pocopson). East Marlborough accounted for 84% of those funds and the other three municipalities accounted for 16%. (The 2015 fire tax was increased from .65 mils to .75 mils.)
“My point to you is – and I think I can speak for East Marlborough Township – I feel we have done our fair share. I realize we are only talking about $240 but that an additional expense you’re asking East Marlborough Township residents to take“, Weer said.
Mincer pressed on and explained that this event would give the board the chance to thank its first responders apart from the tax burden. Weer expressed his gratitude to the first responders and stated that he thanks them every day.
Board Chairman Cuyler Walker thanked Weer and Mincer but the motion for a vote to contribute the $240 was not given by any of the five board members. Mincer asked if she could make the motion herself as she got a good laugh from all and took her seat and said to her colleague, “Alright, oh well… it’s small potatoes.”
Marie Ford, a resident of Traditions for ten years, presented to the board her concerns over the increased noise emanating from the UHS stadium that became much more prominent after the remodel to the high school was completed approximately two years ago. The side of her home faces the high school and she was aware they would hear events at the stadium when the lot was chosen. Her specific concern was the lighting direction and placement and volume of the speakers for the PA system and if there were ordinances in place for the high school.
“It’s becomes a property value and a quality of life issue. We need restrictions in place to be able to coexist and be good neighbors to each other,” Ford added.
Board member John Sarro spoke to Unionville High School Athletic Director, Joe Derickson, whom he said is more than willing to help resolve the issues and wanted to relay to Ford to call Derickson directly. There is also a call into the sound system people to look at the configuration of the speakers.
Walker stated, “Lighting is a much more tangible item to address for zoning but I can tell you we go around and around with noise ordinances. We have to have language that applies to every speaker everywhere for every use. It may well be that these speakers are bouncing off the building so even compliance with the ordinance is not going to necessarily resolve this issue.”
The board at Traditions has a meeting scheduled with Superintendent of Unionville-Chadds Ford School District John Sanville on June 10. Walker urged Ford to come back to the township if the issue wasn’t resolved.
“I would be disappointed if the school district didn’t address the situation. I would be surprised if they didn’t understand and take action,” Walker informed Ford.
I say to M. Ford MOVE!!!! Since you have only been a resident for 10 years did you move there from DelCo??