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Letters to the Editor: Noise Conflicts Will Occur Again

To the Editor:

I am pleased at the turn out last night even if the numbers were stacked against my position. I do believe there were several legitimate concerns stated, especially those of local business owners. I am interested to see how, if at all, the Town Council proceeds with the issue. I suspect last night may have been a surprise to some of the Council members.....it certainly was to me.

As I have stated in the past, I never wanted to be the "poster child" for a town noise ordinance but that is exactly what I have become........so be it. I believe if I achieved anything last night I do feel the majority of the audience realize my intentions are good and I want what is best for ALL of the town. My wife and I will be happy when this issue is behind us once and for all.

I wish at the time of our nightmare I had the support that was expressed to me by people opposing the ordinance as well as those supporting it.......maybe we could have shown the criminals who lived next door what Cornwall is made of. The fact of the matter is that is what everyone thinks they would do faced with what my wife and I had to deal with........the reality is that it doesn't work that way. Had I taken the law into my own hands I would be writing this from a jail cell, confined and in financial ruin.

My core opinion on the matter has not changed. I believe the Town of Cornwall would be better with a noise ordinance.....with accommodations for some of the concerns stated last night by others. I do not envy the Council's task moving forward with this issue. I suspect there may be a thought to bury the issue and let it die a natural death. The Council is here to serve ALL the people of Cornwall and I understand and appreciate that.

No matter what happens with this ordinance I believe some thought should go into what will be done when another situation like mine occurs in Cornwall ..... because it will. Possibly the police need to be trained in dealing with these issues and encouraged to enforce the laws that are already on the books. Maybe a volunteer task force or arbitration committee could be established to intervene in these situations and advise victims of their options. We had few resources when this happened to us and I will be first in line to assist anyone that suffers similar hardship in the future.

I thank each person who attended last night's hearing and those who made their opinions known to the Council privately.

I trust the Town Council will do what is best for our beloved town.

Gerry Wagner
14-year Town of Cornwall resident

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