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Portland Installs Sound Monitors to Collect Noise Data

Portland has installed 13 sound monitors across the city to collect noise data.

Officials say the devices will allow the city to get a baseline for all daily activities that produce noise. However, the impetus for collecting the data stems from noise in the Old Port and outdoor concerts.

“We do get complaints after concerts. A lot of that has to deal with what the weather is at the time because, you know, sometimes someone very close by might not be hearing it and then other times someone out in North Deering could be hearing the shows,” says Portland spokeswoman Jessica Grondin.

Grondin says data will be collected for three months. She says city staff will review a report prepared by the company hired to install the monitors and present it to the City Council’s Health and Human Services Committee.

Grondin says, before making any changes to the city’s noise ordinance, councilors wanted to have some baseline data.

Ed is a Maine native who spent his early childhood in Livermore Falls before moving to Farmington. He graduated from Mount Blue High School in 1970 before going to the University of Maine at Orono where he received his BA in speech in 1974 with a broadcast concentration. It was during that time that he first became involved with public broadcasting. He served as an intern for what was then called MPBN TV and also did volunteer work for MPBN Radio.