Noise Complaints at the Franco Presented to Selectmen

Frequently reported disturbances of the peace brought representatives of the before the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday.

Westford Police safety officer Michael Croteau told the board that police officers had been to the function hall on West Prescott Street 10 times over the past year and 46 times over the past eight years due to noise complaints and other disturbances, although many calls proved to be false alarms according to his testimony.

In particular, the matter came before the board after an incident on May 13 where the club had music emanating out open doors and windows, despite new policies put forward by the club to close all windows and doors after 9 p.m.

Franco-American Club spokesperson Richie Crocker told the board that the doors and windows were not intentionally left open in this case, and that nearly all of the calls mentioned by Croteau were from one particular neighbor who has been upset with the Franco for nearly three decades, citing other neighbors had no particular issue with the club’s noise level.

Crocker also noted new additions such as landscaping on 225, and a six-foot wooden fence over a portion of the parking lot that was geared toward reducing noise to neighbors as well, with an additional six-foot wooden fence to be installed between the club and the upset neighbor.

The Selectmen decided that no current action was needed and requested that the club build the new fence between itself and the upset neighbor as quickly as possible.