For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
BACKGROUND NOISE. Noise which exists at a point as a result of the combination of many distant sources, individually indistinguishable. In statistical terms, it is the level which is exceeded 90% of the time. (L.w) in which the measurement is taken.
COMMERCIAL ZONE. Those areas so designated within the zoning ordinance of the town.
CONSTRUCTION. Any physical activity at a site necessary or incidental to the erection, placement, demolition, assembling, altering, blasting, cleaning, repairing, installing or equipping of building or other structures, public or private highways, roads, premises, parks, utility lines or other property, and shall include, but not limited to, land clearing, grading, excavating, filling and paving.
DAYTIME HOURS. The hours between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and the hours between 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sundays and legal holidays.
DECIBEL. A unit of measurement of the sound level, the symbol for which is dB.
EMERGENCY. Any occurrence or set of circumstances involving actual or imminent physical trauma or property damage which demands immediate action.
EXCESSIVE NOISE. Any sound, the intensity of which exceeds the standards set forth in this chapter.
IMPULSE NOISE. Sound of short duration, usually less than one second, with an abrupt onset and rapid decay.
INTRUSION ALARM. A device with an audible signal which, when activated, indicates intrusion by an unauthorized person.
INDUSTRIAL ZONE. Those areas so designated within the zoning ordinance of the town.
LEGAL HOLIDAY. Includes all legal holidays as designated by the town.
MOTOR VEHICLE. A vehicle as defined in Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-1(53), as amended.
NIGHTTIME HOURS. The hours between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Sunday evening through Friday evening, and between 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Saturday morning through Sunday evening.
NOISE LEVEL. A frequency weighted sound pressure level as measured with a sound level meter using the A-weighting network. The level so read is designated dBA.
PERSON. Any individual, firm, partnership, association, syndicate, company, trust, corporation, municipality, agency or political administrative subdivision of the state or other legal entity of any kind.
PREMISES. Any building, structure, land, or portion thereof, including all appurtenances, owned or controlled by a person.
PROPERTY MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT. All engine or motor-powered tools and equipment used occasionally in the repair and upkeep of exterior property and including, but not limited to, lawn mowers, riding tractors, wood chippers, power saws and leaf blowers.
PUBLIC EMERGENCY SOUND SIGNAL. A device either stationary or mobile, producing audible signal associated with a set of circumstances involving actual or imminent danger to persons or damage to property which demands immediate action.
PUBLIC FACILITY MAINTENANCE. All activity related to the clearing, cleaning, repair and upkeep of public roads, sidewalks, sewers, water mains, utilities and publicly owned property.
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE. Any internal combustion engine powered vehicle which is being used for recreational purposes.
RESIDENTIAL ZONE. Those areas so designated within the zoning ordinance of the town.
SOUND. A transmission of energy through solid, liquid or gaseous media in the form of vibrations which constitute alterations in pressure or position of the particles in the medium any which, in air, evoke physiological sensations, including, but not limited to, an auditory response when impinging on the ear.
SOUND LEVEL METER. An instrument used to measure sound levels. A SOUND LEVEL METER shall conform, as a minimum, to the American National Standards Institute’s operational specifications for sound level meters Sl.4-1971 (Type S2A).
SOUND PRESSURE LEVEL. Twenty times the logarithm to the base ten of the ratio of the pressure of a sound to the reference pressure of 20 micronewtons per square meter (20 X 10-6 Newtons/m2) and is expressed in decibels (dB).
(Ord. passed 8-15-2005)