CARTHAGE — Following a public hearing that no one from the public attended, the Wilna Town Council voted to again extend the moratorium on the siting, location or request for review of any application for a recreational facility for three months.

The issue first came before the board last fall when residents on Selos Road complained about a racetrack built on the property of Scott A. Cannan. Mr. Cannan previously said it was built to have a place for his daughters to practice riding their four-wheelers and dirt bikes. However, neighbors told the board they feared the track would be used for commercial purposes.

At the Oct. 8 board meeting, the original 180-day moratorium put a stop to the use of the track and prohibited any others being constructed in the town. The moratorium was extended for three months in April.

The Wilna Planning Board has been asked to determine regulations for such recreational facilities, and since it has not yet fine-tuned a local law, the board agreed to keeping the moratorium in place.

During the May 14 trustees meeting, Councilman Daniel C. Nevills pointed out noise levels should be considered in drafting a local law concerning such a facility.

“Noise is difficult to regulate,” town attorney Mark G. Gebo said. He pointed out that even natural noises can exceed base decimal levels. In addition, instruments are needed to measure levels, and the point from which the measurement is taken has to be regulated.

“It’s difficult to measure and difficult to enforce,” the attorney said. “One way to regulate is with hours of operation. The applicant could submit how they would manage noise. The devil is in the details.”

At last month’s meeting, when the extension of the moratorium was broached, Councilman Frank M. Skvorak opposed the extension, citing the need to put an end to the discussion and to act on the situation.

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