Bars may close earlier with new rule

Selectmen in Lyndonville have been getting numerous complaints from residents about two local businesses being too loud during the late night hours.

Recently the Packing House and Phat Kats have been creating too much noise according to the local residents. Town officials are trying to cut back on the number of problems that seem to occur around this time every year. Town Municipal Administrator, Dan Hill, is trying to find a solution where everyone is pleased with the outcome.

"We are not trying to put anybody out of business. We are just trying to strike a balance between them making a living and people trying to go out and enjoy themselves in the evening but also trying to have some respect for the people who live in the general area."

Some of the issues that at both locations are bottles and trash being left on the ground and no one is picking it up. Also residents are complaining about the noise coming from the open windows and when people are leaving the premises. Hill said there is not too much Lyndon can do unless there is underage drinking.

"I think again you strike a very fine line here I think what goes on if it is all people 21 and older in there doing these things and it is not against state law its probably none of our business, its when it slips to the outside or there are underage people being exposed to this or participating in it, then it becomes our problem."

The entrance to the Packing House

Lyndonville is trying to adapt some of the same policies St. Johnsbury has, one of them being bars close at 1:00 am instead of 2:00 am.

Right now town officials have discussed these concerns with the bar owners in hopes that these situations will get resolved. They understand it is a college town but still believe there should be some guidelines. Dan hill says neither bar has received any type of warning he only asks that they clean up their act both physically and appearance wise. Another selectboard meeting concerning this topic has been set for Monday April 20^th at 5:30 pm.