SALEM — Musicians and artists packed City Hall last night in an effort to urge city councilors not to place restrictions on live music in downtown Salem.
Well over 100 people — mostly musicians and bar and restaurant workers who organized on Facebook — showed up to the meeting, which was designed to revise the city's noise ordinance to reflect a changing, now-vibrant downtown and to address complaints from downtown residents about a variety of noise issues.
Members of the Downtown Neighborhood Association have suggested creating a noise-control policy to remedy problems over outdoor music, amplified sound, motorcycle noise and late-night bar crowds.
"We agreed that reasonable people ... can come together to find a solution to the problem," said Derby Lofts resident Shirley Walker. "We can have the vibrant downtown and get some uninterrupted sleep at night."
Musicians, meanwhile, packed the meeting. So many people showed up that crowds spilled out of two exits in the City Council chamber. It was one of the largest — and youngest — audiences at a council meeting in the last few years.
The turnout was organized largely on Facebook, where musician Danielle Burnett started an online group called Protect Salem Arts that attracted 133 members in about two weeks. Using the social networking Web site, Burnett sent out an online invitation to members, alerting them of the meeting and the noise ordinance.
"If they're going to push this, we're going to stand up," Burnett said.
One by one, they did, pointing out the contributions musicians have made to a revitalized downtown and resisting any attempts to stop the music early at night.
"I just came in to say I can't imagine this town without live music," said Domenic Frizzi, a musician. "There's no vibe like Salem."
"Those locals that contribute money to our cafe, they also contribute to my tip jar to allow me to pay rent. If the bands won't be able to play past a certain time, they won't be as likely to play at all," John Leone said.
Andy Goldman said there have been several instances in the last few years where an establishment has had to stop live music or switch to an acoustic format because of the complaints of just one person.
Several people pointed out that residents drawn to the downtown for its high energy are now the ones complaining that it's too loud.
"If you move next to the fish market, you're going to smell fish," Ward 3 Councilor Jean Pelletier said. "... If you move in upstairs from a bar, you have to be cognizant of that fact."
"I don't understand people who move into a vibrant downtown ... but then they want to change it," Elise Mankes said. "I lived in Manhattan. I didn't expect the noise to go away. I had to change my environment."
Councilors and even downtown residents, however, insisted their goal was never to crack down on live music.
"I like the music," Derby Lofts resident Darryl Sanders said. "It's the volume of the music that can be a problem. You can't tell me that turning it down a couple of notches will make a dent in your income."
Another major problem is the approximately 1,400 bar patrons that all file out of downtown establishments at 1 a.m., residents said.
"I play rugby," Sanders said. "There's not much that frightens me. Walking through the downtown at 1 in the morning scares me. There's a mass of people on the streets keeping us up yelling and screaming."
Police Sgt. Harry Rocheville said police do the best they can with a department that's down 14 officers. Two are assigned to the downtown when the bars let out.
In the end, councilors voted to form a focus group that includes city officials, police, downtown residents and musicians to revise the city's 40-year-old noise ordinance.
The current ordinance imposes fines for a variety of disturbances — from bass-thumping car stereos to raucous parties to irritating pet birds.
Live music that creates "a noise disturbance" between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. is punishable by fines ranging from $25 to $200.
Meanwhile, supporters hoped last night's meeting accomplished the task of showing city councilors they are an important voice in the city.
"Please never associate music with noise," Goldman said. "Music is not noise."
Staff writer Chris Cassidy can be reached at ccassidy@salem news.com.
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