GREENWOOD — All 150 Greenwood residents at the town meeting on Saturday voted down a proposed noise ordinance. The citizen-driven proposal stemmed from one resident’s complaint about a neighbor’s 24/7 generator and sparked a heated exchange between residents at the meeting.

Voters were especially concerned about enforcement.

“We have no enforcement. State police — no enforcement. County — no enforcement, just like the fireworks ordinance. They are not going to come out here … we are going down a dead-end road. Moot point,” said one resident.

Fire Chief Ken Cole agreed. So did Code Enforcement Officer Ann Kwoka: “We would have to create a noise police … there is no point enacting an ordinance unless you have the mechanism to enforce it.”

Mt. Abram Ski & Ride had come out against the proposed ordinance, saying it could severely restrict the ski area’s ability to function, including nighttime snowmaking operations and summer concerts.

An uproar began when the complainants, 40-year residents of 92 Sheepskin Bog Road, took the floor. Ann Litchfield said the noise issue began over two years ago with a neighbor’s generator. After multiple complaints, she felt town officials had failed her.

“It was never the intent for the ordinance to be as strict as it is in this draft,” she said. Her husband, Charlie Donachie, followed, claiming town officials had “misled and mishandled the whole thing.”

He said the Brooks Farm was once peaceful but had changed after being overtaken by family. He then turned to his neighbors, saying, “I’m not going to let this trash come in and bring down the town of Greenwood.”

As his anger grew, other attendees in the crowded Legion Hall urged him to sit down or leave. Moderator Vern Maxfield pounded his gavel, saying, “Can someone help me take this gentleman out, please?” Three woman stood but Donachie moved toward a man. They had words, before Donachie backed away.

“I don’t think I’ve been disrespectful at all. Good luck to anyone who has this problem in the future,”  Donachie responded. “In the town of Greenwood, we’ve got trash moving in. We’ve got people with junk, parking campers and trash all over the road — it looks bad.”

“Your time has ended,” a resident said as Donachie moved toward the door.

Kwoka acknowledged the issue began with a generator but said enforcing the noise ordinance would be costly and impractical. She suggested the noise ordinance focus specifically on generators.

“There is quite a bit of off-grid living … whether by choice or necessity, people are living in non-traditional housing … there are a host of issues that go along with that including septic, grey water, and all sorts of things,” she said. “I want to work with the town to put together an ordinance that addresses all of those issues, that isn’t going to have the unintended consequences that this ordinance is creating. In the meantime, I will handle issues on a case-by-case basis … don’t think that you are being ignored. I am not going to ignore this issue.”

Structure setbacks

A second citizen driven article was also soundly defeated. The article proposed changing the current setback requirement for new residential structures from 10 feet to 25 feet from the property line. For commercial structures, the minimum setback from side and rear lot lines would increase to 50 feet.

Town Manager Kim Sparks explained that the ordinance was triggered by complaints from a neighbor concerned that a commercial business might be built too close to their property.

“They’d like it to be 25 feet because they’re also worried it could be a commercial business and there’s no specific setback for commercial,” Sparks said.

One resident questioned the necessity of such changes, saying, “I feel like we are making big changes for onesies, twosies …” Another pointed out an error in the ordinance, and another said it was poorly written.

Other business

With the exception of both ordinances, all of the other 32 articles on the warrant passed, most with little discussion. All together residents approved a $2.2 million budget.

Voters allocated $450,000 for repairs to Greenwood Road, “from Rowe Hill as far as we can toward Locke’s Mills,” said Sparks. Others raised concerns over past roadwork there, but Selectman Bob Oickle reassured them, “We are going to do it right when we do it.”

They approved $75,000 toward a reserve fund to build a new fire station. They are revamping their original bid from the $2.9 million, 20-year building and currently have $400,000 toward a lesser fire station.

Articles 23 through 32 were bundled and approved as boilerplate.

The town of Greenwood’s Annual Town Report was dedicated in memory of Gilbert Dunham, who “spent nearly his entire life within sight of the place he was born.”

Selectman Norm Milliard, a six-year incumbent, was reelected for another three-year term.

Ending the meeting on a lighter moment, Amy Chapman presented Sparks with a hanging plant for her upcoming birthday, saying, “She’s been going through hell over there.”