ASHFIELD — Concerns over gun noise on West Road have been mounting over several months, leading Selectboard members to discuss options to mitigate the problem during their Monday meeting.
Concerns were first raised about the noise disturbing the peace last year. However, according to Town Administrator Paul McLatchy III, police officers have explained they are unable to stop anything because the gun noise comes from target practice, which does not fall under the town’s noise ordinances.
“The property owners were otherwise complying with state gun/shooting laws,” McLatchy wrote in an email.
McLatchy explained this issue is contentious because “there are many people that live in Ashfield for the peace and quiet this town offers.”
“We also have just as many residents who are law-abiding gun owners who like being able to use them on their property and follow all state requirements,” he added.
Selectboard member Steven Gougeon explained town officials are clarifying what constitutes a disturbance, and attempting to figure out what the disturbance legally means by seeking guidance from town counsel.
“We are also seeking advice from counsel to see what options are legally available that would hold up to challenges, and what actions might be a nonstarter,” McLatchy wrote.
The Selectboard also plans to host a community forum on Monday, Oct. 17, that would allow everyone to speak on the issue without voting or making any decisions, according to McLatchy. While the Selectboard will be hosting, board members will play a minimal role as they plan to have someone else moderate the forum.
“There will be some pretty hot opinions,” Gougeon noted. “We are trying to have discussions to find some middle ground.”
In regards to moving forward, there are informal and formal options according to McLatchy. Informally, neighbors could create a spoken agreement with the involved property owners.
More formally, Ashfield officials could also create new bylaws or change the permitting process to solve the noise problem. There is currently no noise ordinance that relates to gun use; the only noise ordinance states residents cannot make excessive noise between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.
“We hope we can let people get thoughts out,” Gougeon said. “We are only in the beginning stages on this.”
Bella Levavi can be reached at 413-930-4579 or blevavi@recorder.com.