Chamber Supports Local Enforcement of Licensed Establishments

On Tuesday, the Chamber issued a statement supporting Berwick Borough’s request to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) to monitor noise from establishments with liquor licenses. State statute prohibits any amplified music or entertainment from being heard beyond the property line of a licensed establishment. The Borough’s request is an attempt to support local establishments that wish to provide live entertainment to customers.   The state statute allows municipalities to request an exemption and have a local ordinance apply in its place. A public hearing was held by the PCLB on Tuesday morning in Berwick to gather input on the request.

The Chamber Board approved a statement in support of the Borough’s request which was provided at the hearing.   “The Borough has an established Noise Control Ordinance (99-3) to protect the safety and wellbeing of its citizens. It has demonstrated responsible application of this Ordinance in balancing the interests of citizens and businesses. It is therefore reasonable that the Borough take responsibility for enforcing noise violations at liquor license establishments as it does for all other entities, rather than subjecting these establishments to a separate, more restrictive set of guidelines.”

The PLCB can take up to 30 days to issue a decision on the request following the hearing.