As a city resident, over the past couple years, the disruption of sleep from neighbors’ garbage
service before 6am has been an ongoing problem. My husband and I have reached out several times. At first there was a significant change in a later pick up time. Then the pick up time started creeping earlier and earlier. We called again in the summer and it was pushed later for awhile, but most recently has been very early again. When speaking to other nearby neighbors, they are also affected by this. The loud motors, brakes, and moving of equipment, is a disruption to sleep, directly impacting daily functioning, overall well being, comfort, peace and quiet of living.

In the city of Oneonta’s Noise Ordinance, it currently states that it intends to prohibit excessive and unreasonable noise from all sources to preserve, protect and promote health, safety and welfare and the peace, quiet, comfort and repose of persons within the city. It restricts construction work from beginning before 7:00am, but allows garbage refuse to begin at 5am. Garbage removal vehicles are no different from construction work. They are both of a high decibel, repetitive, and overall disruptive in nature. Nearby towns have later noise ordinances, and some with no specification of waste removal. 5am is not a reasonable time for garbage refuse pickup, especially given the close proximity of streets to houses within city limits. It is also
a normal sleeping hour.

We propose the City of Oneonta change Section L of its Noise Ordinance to a later time to ensure the residents health, welfare, peace, quiet and comfort in their own properties.

By signing the petition you are in support of changing the Noise Ordinance in the City of