READING, Pa. – Reading City Council approved an amendment to the city’s noise ordinance Monday night to increase the minimum fee to $100 from the current $25 penalty.
The amendment will also eliminate the need for two residential complaints for the police to respond, and it will give police the authority to immediately seize any device that is the source of the noise.
Councilmember Jaime Baez Jr. wanted to amend the motion to raise the fine to $250, but council solicitor Michael Gombar advised that an amendment to increase the fine would be a substantial change and would require a reintroduction of the ordinance.
Gombar said the police requested the $100 fine to see how it plays out over the next couple of months, after which time the final amount could be revisited.
Baez agreed to withdraw his motion to make the amendment.
Councilmember Rafael Nunez said the community faces many problems and that residents need to understand that council is there to fight for the community.
Charter board
In another matter, council appointed John Addeo to serve on the Charter Board, which will give it a quorum to be able to meet once again.
The five-member board had been vacant until council appointed two members at its last meeting.
Two vacancies still exist on the panel.