Farmersville Road area families are so fed up by Aaaron Schaffer's ATVs that they decided to make some noise of their own before Bethlehem Township Commissioners on May 2. They want the noise to stop. "I have the right to enjoy my property, too," stated Al Camaione, who was there to complain about the ATV exploits of Framersville Road resident Aaron Schaffer. "They're riding all the time," noted Camaione, who stated that Schaeffer's friends ride when he's at work. He also objected to bonfires and tires at Schaeffer's residence. "We just don't need this kind of stuff in our neighborhood," he concluded. John Pitti echoed Camaione's concerns. "I don't want to take anybody's right to have fun," he cautioned, but complained about revving noises from ATVs at 8 PM and later. "It's incessant," added Randi Tillman. "Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, revving."
But Aaron Schaffer, who was present, had his defenders. Michael Turocy told Commissioners there were already ordinances dealing with excessive noise, fires and tires. "It seems to me there are enough ordinances to cover everything complained about. What's the problem?" he demanded. Matthew Longenberger called it a "neighborhood dispute" and worried that his "freedom is being taken incrementally." Mark Bonstein added that he uses his ATV to plow driveways and school bus stops in the neighborhood. "ATVs are not the problem, it's the noise," he stated.
Commissioner Thomas Nolan stated that one solution would be an ordinance similar to one enacted in North Whitehall Township in 2009, which effectively bans ATVs. But Commissioner Jerry Batcha balked at regulating one neighbor, which he jokingly referred to as the "Schaffer law."
"Consider this a public reprimand," Batcha warned Schaffer, telling him that his claim that a bonfire was used for cooking was an insult to everyone's intelligence. "Don't force our hand."
Commissioner Paul Weiss suggested that neighbors need to find a "common ground." Like Batcha, he opposes a restriction on everyone because of one homeowner. And like Batcha, he warned Schaffer that police have already visited his property too many times. "If they get called again, there will be fallout," he added.
Aa the meeting ended, Schaffer was shaking hands with his neighbors.
Blogger's Note: Pictured above is Al Camaione.
