Houlden Farm neighbor: ‘Don’t you think it’s time to hold them a little bit accountable?’

A family member of a Houlden Farms neighbor asked the Select Board to do something about the loud music at the farm’s Sunflower Shanty, noting the town’s lack of a noise ordinance is making weekends intolerable.

“Don’t you think it’s time to hold them a little bit accountable for the restrictions you have put upon them to date?” asked Bill Rychlik, whose son lives beside the farm.

Houlden Farm was originally scheduled to be at the Select Board Tuesday, a week after the board was unable to accept the shanty’s application for additional one-day liquor license permits because proof of insurance was not submitted. With the insurance paperwork and other materials not supplied, the Select Board again put off a decision until their August 9 meeting.

The Houldens ran into difficulties with state the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission back in June, which ruled that the farm was improperly using repeated 30-day liquor licenses to run the business. While the farm was allowed to retain the already granted licenses, they sought a workaround last week by giving ownership of the Sunflower Shanty to Sandra Foys, who would retain the profits. Since the farm would not directly benefit from the alcohol sales, their lawyer believed Foys would be able to apply for additional licenses.

The Select Board last week expressed concern about the Houldens’ lack of progress on creating the temporary sound barrier they said they would build back in May.

Rychilik read aloud a letter he submitted to the board:

I met with the Grafton Chief on Friday June 17th in regards to noise and how it is handled by the PD. He informed me that Grafton has no noise ordinance and there is not much he can do, although he has expressed that the town really needs to adopt regulations. After speaking to the Chief I was totally surprised that the Select Board has never checked to see if any complaints were called in? Not once. The Chief said going forward all complaints would be forwarded to the board. 
On Friday, June 10, music was the loudest we had encountered to date with no noise abatement, and a crowd exceeding 300 people 

On Friday, June 17, music was full volume loud with no noise abatement, the noise level was an insult to the neighbors and to the restrictions the board put on their temporary permit. Again crowds of 300+ 

The Board said they would have them back in mid July, or sooner if there were complaints. Friday evening Andy Jefferson was parked in my son’s driveway for about ten minutes or so, he witnessed the unabated volume of music. He then left and drove to Houlden Farms. Not sure where it went from there. 

My position remains the same. This is an R40 zone and entertainment is not a permitted use. This issue, I believe should have been referred to the ZBA, as that is the only path to relief from the zoning laws of The Town of Grafton. 

Whereas the Town of Grafton has no noise ordinance, the State of MA. does. I offer the following two links for your reference. 

https://newenglandsoundproofing.com/town noise code 

Bill Rychlik 90 Wesson Street

Rychilik added that he has contacted other boards in town about the issue.

“This past Saturday night, we had a family affair at my son’s house. We had it inside because it was too loud outside,” he said, alleging his daughter-in-law was verbally abused by one of the Houlden brothers. “It is escalating.”