TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON, N.J.—After receiving a warning from police for violating noise limits while holding outdoor events—and a half-dozen pleas from nearby residents at a September council meeting to stop the noise—township staple Seasons Catering appears to have turned down the volume at its outdoor events and parties.
Police Chief Richard Skinner and Lt. Roy Scherer met with Seasons’ management on Sept. 16 following resident complaints and concerns about the excessive noise.
Nearby residents said the excessive noise levels began when outdoor catering events and wedding parties resumed over the summer following Covid-19 restrictions.
“Seasons was very cooperative and said they were going to police the situation on their own and see that it doesn’t continue,” Capt. John Calamari told Pascack Press on Sept. 25. He said the last resident noise complaint came in on Sept. 12.
“We monitored the situation over the weekend [Sept. 19–20] and there were no issues whatsoever,” said Calamari. He said police met Sept. 16 with Seasons owner James Kourgelis and two other family members, James and George Kourgelis. “They acknowledged that the DJs did play music excessively loud.”
He said Skinner read local noise ordinances to the Seasons’ management and said summonses would be issued if noise levels did not decrease. He said the chief told Seasons that should loud music continue the police would intervene.
Calamari said no summonses were issued to Seasons this year, although Township Administrator Robert Tovo said on Sept. 14 that he had been informed that police had issued two summonses for excessive noise—one to Seasons and one to a DJ.
At the meeting, angry residents—most from Washington Commons off of Pascack Road— told members they needed the council to take strong action on the complaints.
Council President Stacey Feeney, a resident of Northgate condominiums, said she had experienced the noise as well, and empathized with parents.
She noted that although “Seasons has a right to operate and operate outside” she said that there is also a resolution to the issue.
Council Vice President Arthur Cumming agreed, noting “There has to be some compromise and resolution” to allow Seasons to hold events, make a living, and for residents nearby to live in a comfortable environment.
He said he was “very familiar” with noise ordinances, noting excessive noise is generally defined as a reading of more than 70 decibels about 50 feet over the property line.
He said if people cannot hear each other talk, that would appear to violate noise limits.
Cumming said he would loan police his noise decibel monitor to to help them get a better handle on noise complaints after learning the police department did not have such equipment.
Later, Tovo said the township’s noise ordinance did not include specific decibel limits and needed to be updated. He said he would work with Borough Attorney Kenneth Poller and Cumming to improve the ordinance.
Councilman Steven Cascio said he had not heard previously about the excessive noise complaints against Seasons and requested the administration “take a firm stance and enforce the ordinances on the books.”
He suggested possibly lowering the noise decibel levels viewed as excessive but noted “the administration has to enforce it.”
Councilman Michael DeSena called for better communication among councilmembers on noise concerns and other issues. Feeney told him though she knew about the noise issue in advance due to her home’s proximity, she did not want to use her position to raise it until it became a larger concern.
Seasons did not respond to our request for comment by press time.