Ross commissioners decided Monday night to form a committee to study how loud is too loud. The decision came after commissioners heard both sides of an ongoing noise debate that stems from loudspeakers at youth athletic games. They had considered a noise ordinance, but tabled it after hearing testimony from neighbors and youth league officials. Craig DeFinis, president of the North Hills Youth Football Association, said his group had not been given the chance to address the noise problem at the Ross Elementary School field where they play. “Don’t take this away from these kids,” DeFinis said. “I don’t even find that noise. I find that flattering to a young kid.” However, Arbor Drive resident Mark Priore said the noise from the Ross Elementary field resonates through his home on gameday and he questioned the need for the loud speakers. “Is hearing their name blurted out of a loudspeaker so important• I don’t think that’s part of good sportsmanship,” Priore said. Don Tilves, president of the North Hills Athletic Association, said his league would face its speakers at Bartlett Field away from nearby homes next spring. He supports a township proposal to study noise levels at nearby homes during games. “Maybe we need to have a study done so somebody can tell us how loud is loud,” Tilves said. About 100 people, including parents with their children and residents concerned about noise, attended the meeting, which at times became noisy. “I’d like to see if we can’t get the parties together to cooperate. We have to get together to solve this problem,” Commissioner William Grady said. Ross commissioners are considering the noise ordinance after receiving complaints from residents upset by the increasing level of noise at youth sporting events, especially the proliferation of loudspeakers at youth football games. Other residents fear noise will increase at the township’s Bartlett Field, located behind Ross Park Mall, because of the installation of lights and the possibility of night games. In large part, commissioners are responding to complaints from residents who live near Ross Elementary School, at 90 Houston Rd., where Ross Field is the site of practices and home games for the North Hills Youth Football Association. The association provides activities for more than 250 football players and cheerleaders ages 7 to 13. In theory, the North Hills School District could revoke the group’s permit to play at the elementary school. Such a move seems unlikely, after dozens of young football players and their parents showed up at a school board meeting last week.

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