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The West Lebanon Township Board of Commissioners agreed to advertise updates to its disorderly conduct ordinance at its monthly meeting Monday.
The board voted 3-2 to advertise the expansion of disorderly conduct to include deliberately squealing tires, setting display or consumer fireworks in violation of state law, and creating excessively loud noise audible across property lines or from 50 feet away.
The text of the amendment
- Deliberately cause their vehicle’s tires to squeal.
- Set off any display or consumer fireworks, as defined in 3 Pa.C.S.A. § 1101, in any area of West Lebanon Township in violation of Pennsylvania Act 74 of 2022.
- Use, operate or permit the use of any musical instrument, radio, television, phonograph, compact disc player, tape player or any other type of instrument or device capable of playing music or producing amplified sound, including what is commonly known as a “boom box,” in such a manner as to be unreasonably loud, raucous, jarring, disturbing, or a nuisance to persons of reasonable sensitivities within the area of audibility, when such sound is plainly audible across a property line or at a distance of 50 feet, whichever is less, when the device creating the sound is in or on a motor vehicle, or hand carried on a public right-of-way or public space. Instruments or devices used in violation of this subsection shall be impounded by the Police Department.
Commissioner Michelle Testerman, who was in opposition, explained that she does not have a problem adding deliberate tire squealing and fireworks to the list of prohibited conduct, but is concerned with the subjective nature of penalizing noise.
She explained that the township has investigated complaints where a direct neighbor could not hear the offending sound, but a neighbor across the street could. She said she is worried the wording of the ordinance could make it difficult to enforce, though Lebanon County Regional Police Chief Tim Knight said the language is similar to that used by North Lebanon Township, and he has not had difficulty enforcing it there.
The board also unanimously agreed to advertise an addition to the ordinance specifying that violators will “pay a fine not less than $200 and not to exceed $1,000 and/or to undergo imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days.”
Following extensive discussion, commissioners agreed to reject all bids received for trash and recycling haulers, with the intention of rebidding the project for a one-year term.
The township received bids from Weidle Sanitation and Whitman & Sons, with Weidle coming in the lowest with rates of $84 per quarter year one, $88 per quarter year two, and $93 per quarter year three. Whitman’s rates were $100 for year one, with an increase of 3 percent over the next two years.
Commissioner Phyllis Dryden noted that Weidle has been recently purchased by Good’s and voiced concerns with their handling of trash, including bins left out in the street.
Solicitor Paul Bametzreider said that unless the board has evidence the low bidder is unequipped to perform the job, they must pick the low bidder.
Ultimately, commissioners opted to reject bids and rebid, specifying a year’s term, so they can evaluate their happiness with a provider at the end of the year.
Monday’s agenda was otherwise light, with the board approving the minutes and various reports as well as hearing public comment.
West Lebanon Township meets the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. These meetings are open to the public and do not require prior registration.
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