05/20/03

NOISE ISSUES IN WORKS

Council has received complaints about the noise from an exhaust fan at the Zenith Corporation. City officials have met with the company, and will be taking decibel readings this week to determine if a violation exists in either the City zoning code and/or in the noise ordinance. Zenith has asked the City to define the noise they are producing to make the correction. Members of Council will also be seeking a revision to one or both of the Codes to enhance the Code Enforcement Officials' authority to correct this type of situation in the future. State and County laws do not seem to provide a reference on how to address this issue. Additional complaints continue with the loud motorcycles, usually on Sunday mornings that are driven through the City, usually on Washington Street and 6th Street. For more information or suggestions on how to proceed with these, please call Council President, Chris Castagno at 322-9801 or email CastagnoCJ@aol.com or Public Service Director, Jim Weldin at 323-6086 or email JimWeldin@newcastlecity.org.

PLANNING COMMISSION LIAISON

Councilman Joe DiAngelo has agreed to serve as the Council's Liaison to the Planning Commission. The Liaison's responsibility, like all those serving as a Liaison to any commission and/or committee, is to offer input to the committee from a Council point of view (or from the agency or other Committee they represent) and to report the Planning Commission's activities and issues to the Council at large (or to their Committee or Commission). This Liaison appointment recognizes the Council's appreciation for the value of the service that the Planning Commission provides for the City.

SERVICE "HOT LINE" SUGGESTED

Public Services Director Jim Weldin is suggesting the development of a special voice mail, telephone number to receive Code violation information, 24/7, from the public. The voice mail will receive calls from anyone who wishes to make complaints or suggestions about Code violations throughout the City. Weldin says that callers could choose to remain anonymous and that the voice mail would be transcribed to provide a traceable record of the activities. The goal of this "Hot Line" is to respond to citizen issues and to measure the service levels of our Code Enforcement activities. If you have suggestions about this concept, please call Jim Weldin at 323-6086 or email at JimWeldin@newcastlecity.org or any of the Council members at 322-9801.

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