• To address the inconsistencies, the proposed amendments eliminate the provisions which are difficult to enforce regarding unreasonable or excessive barking and what constitutes a noise violation, and has replaced them with revised provisions to define “Noise Disturbance” and identify specific activities that are prohibited and specific activities that are exempt from the noise regulations.
•  For enforcement purposes, it requires either sworn affidavits from two separate persons in two separate residences, direct observation by the enforcement officer or official, or that the noise lev el exceeds certain decibel levels as measured with a sound metering device.
•  The revisions continue to permit the use of a sound metering dev ice as an alternative method of enforcement and sets specific decibel levels that cannot be exceeded in residential and nonresidential zones during day time and nighttime hours.
• The law identifies a number of noise making activities that are generally exempt from the noise regulations. However, there are limitations with respect to many of these ex emptions. In addition, a general provision has been included that the exempt activities cannot exceed the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommended exposure levels for occupational noise exposure.

• Federal law – the Federal Communication Act and orders of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) leave very little authority to municipalities in their review of applications for wireless facilities.  If the applicant proves that there is a deficiency in cell service and that the site which is proposed is the least obtrusive, then the municipality is hard pressed not to approve the application. The extent of the authority then is limited to “site plan review” such as the design, screening, tweaking location and similar matters

• Planning Board members provided instructions to Homeland Towers on the balloon tests, location of photographs to attempt to capture the visual impact

• Homeland Towers had engaged a professional photographer with experience and training in taking the photographs

•  The next steps (and the FCC has recently expanded what constitutes a need) There also are trade-off

• Promote and encourage street and highway traffic safety.
• Formulate street and highway safety programs and coordinate efforts of interested parties and agencies engaged in traffic safety education
• Study traffic conditions on streets and highways, study and analyze reports of accidents and causes thereof, and recommend to the appropriate legislative bodies, departments or commissions such changes as deemed advisable in rules, orders, regulations and physical changes to the roadway, signage and other components of the roadway system
• Conduct meetings on a regular basis and invite to such meetings parties and agencies, public and private, interested in traffic regulation, control

• Promote safety education for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.
• Obtain and assemble motor vehicle accident data, and analyze, study and consolidate such data to evaluate potential changes to the roadway system and for educational and informational purposes
• Coordinate and  direct  local  activities  related to the implementation of the state highway safety program, as approved by the governor or his designee
• Make reports/recommendations to the Town Board as necessary.
• Provide a sustained and systematic mechanism and clearing house for considering concerns about traffic safety.

• The first calls for restoration of Aid and Incentives to Municipalities for the Town (AIM), for increased funding the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPs) (NYS funds for local road projects) and to retain funding for the Local PAVE-N and Extreme Winter Recovery (EWR). In particular, the Governor’s proposed budget would result in a loss of $79,494 in AIM funds to the Town of Bedford.  At a time when our Town like so many others in New York struggle to sustain services to its residents, AIM funds are more critical than ever. We ask that the budget include such funds. New York’s roads have been deteriorating at an alarming rate. These include our local roads. We need the funds.

• The second calls for funding for the concrete portion of I-684 running through Bedford.  This is the only section of I-684 which is the original road bed completed in the late 1960s.  So it’s 50 years old. And it’s in terrible shape. We’ve been asking for over two decades, yes, two decades that the State fix it. It is dangerous. 

• I presented the Town Board’s resolutions on February 8 at a special budget forum in Greenburgh hosted by all of the New York State Senators representing Westchester County.  I will keep you posted whether we are successful in our efforts regarding the state budget.  

• The need to resolve inconsistencies between sections of the Town Code, which create confusion for our community as well as enforcement concerns.

•  Response to advice from our Police Department and Code Enforcement Officer personnel that use of noise meters for residential noise complaints typically is impractical.

• Creation of a clear definition of what constitutes a noise disturbance and need for a balance to ensure that valid complaints are addressed but invalid complaints are not.

•  Need to address concern from both businesses and residents alike that there be a fair, clear and simple method for permitting live music (more than one performer) in restaurants and taverns in non-residential areas to provide that reasonable noise regulations are being observed. 

• Need to address certain provisions of the Town Code regulating dog barking due to concerns with respect to enforcement of these provisions.

• If your car is already stopped, and you don’t have anywhere to pull over, simply stay put until the emergency vehicle goes around you

• If you are blocking the route of the emergency vehicle, and you are able to pull ahead and over into a clear area, use your turn signal to indicate your intentions and proceed at a safe speed

• If you are on the crest of a hill or a bend of a curve, proceed through until oncoming traffic is visible for the emergency vehicle behind you

• Never slam on the brakes and stop in the middle of the road when you see apparatus approaching

• Make no sudden moves

•  If an emergency vehicle is approaching from the opposite direction, you should pull over and come to a full stop

• You have no idea if the emergency vehicle is proceeding down the road or are planning on turning into a driveway or intersection right in front of you

• Do not tailgate, “draft,” or follow a responding apparatus closely, not only is this illegal, you run the risk of a collision as vehicles pull back out into traffic after the emergency vehicle goes by

• You are not required to slow down or pull over for emergency vehicles that are responding in the opposite direction on a divided highway or interstate

• When a driver pulls over and then drives on the shoulder at a slower speed, they lengthen the distance in which the emergency vehicle must navigate before fully passing the vehicle. A vehicle travelling at 20mph on the shoulder is covering 29.3 feet every second and that adds to the passing corridor. This also provides less room for the emergency vehicle to pass and navigate oncoming traffic if they haven’t fully pulled over.

• When you see a personal vehicle operating a flashing blue or green light, those are volunteers responding to a call, they do not have the right of way like emergency vehicles do. These flashing lights are known as courtesy lights and we ask that people pull over if safe to do so, but you are not obligated to do so. These volunteers must stop for all traffic control devices and obey all traffic laws when responding.