By KENNEDY GRIFFIN
(Ashfield, MA) Update: Residents of Ashfield came out Saturday for the Annual Town Meeting and Election. The proposition 2 1/2 to fund the purchase of a new fire truck was approved and after much debate, the citizens’ petitions brought forth by Ashfield resident Ron Cole, to amend the town’s excessive noise bylaw and a second petition to ban the sales of single-use plastics in town were both voted in favor of.
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03/10/2023 A citizen’s petition for an excessive noise bylaw has received 58 signatures from Ashfield residents and will be making it to the Town Meeting in May.
In November of last year, the Selectboard held a public forum on the issue of gun noise after some residents complained of a property owner using their land for target practice.
The petition seeks to replace the current excessive noise bylaw and replace it with new language clarifying what noise is prohibited, exemptions, enforcement and penalties. There will be informational session on April 19th at 7 p.m. at Ashfield Town Hall. Find full details on the petition and upcoming information meeting and Town Meeting here.
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11/16/22 Update: The Ashfield Select Board held a public forum Monday to allow residents to discuss gun noise after a Wellesley resident used his Ashfield property for target practice prompting several noise complaints. The forum attracted many residents, one of which was Lauren Mills who said her husband’s final days battling terminal illness was disturbed by gunfire.
Mills proposed a noise ordinance stating it would be unlawful “to make, permit, continue, or cause to be made or to create any unreasonably loud and disturbing noise in Ashfield.” Other residents spoke about the concern of more laws and regulations on gun ownership making the town vulnerable to lawsuits.
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11/14/22 The Ashfield Select Board will be holding a public forum this evening for residents to discuss the issue of gun noise in Ashfield. Recently, noise complaints have been made after a Wellesley resident has been using his Ashfield property for target practice.
The town does not currently have any ordinances around gun noise, only prohibiting excessive noise between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. The town meeting will provide a space for the community to discuss gun and other noises, although there will not be any votes or decisions made. It will be held in person at the Town Hall, 412 Main Street, at 7:00 p.m.