A car club that had a controversial Chautauqua County Fairgrounds show in 2021 will have three at the venue this summer. However, applications for car stereo sound contests were denied at two of the events.
The Dunkirk Common Council last week approved three fair shows with DJs for the Unique Car Club and its leader, Juan Rivera. The dates of the shows will be June 10, July 29 and September 2. The council then voted against the sound contests, which were planned for the July 29 and September 2 shows.
Councilwoman Nancy Nichols was the swing vote. The board approved the shows, with Nichols joining Martin Bamonto and Natalie Luczkowiak in voting. “Yes” to all three Nichols then provided the crucial third vote to reject the car audio competitions, along with David Damico and James Stoyle.
Police Chief David Ortolano told the council he’s OK with having the shows, but not about the noise competitions within them.
“I have received phone calls from community residents who are already asking that it not be approved,” he said “You all know my opinion on loud music and loud noise, it’s something we enforce vehemently with the police department and it’s one of my pet peeves.”
City attorney Michael Bobseine said Rivera had agreed to the sound competition being indoors and listed additional provisions. Bobseine added that the city no longer has a decibel sound level reader.
Noise from the 2021 fairground show prompted hundreds of complaints to police and council members. High school graduation parties and a wedding at nearby Holy Trinity Church were said to be on hold.
Rivera agreed to reduce the noise, and a 2022 fairground show, which included a vehicle sound contest, went ahead with fewer complaints. However, according to Ortolano, the show itself is not the only problem.
“It’s the coming and going. We’ve received many complaints from the cars coming and going, because they’re already testing their music on the way, and on the way out.” he said Police write tickets, but it still disrupts residents’ quality of life, he added.
Nichols also later expressed concern about the noise from motorists coming and going from the show for audio competitions.
Luczkowiak commented that since the club improved its behavior last year since the 2021 event, it should have a chance to hold the competitions.
The auto club affair livened up an otherwise unremarkable council session last week. The council did not consider any deal at the meeting.
