Resident: ‘It Sounds Like an Airplane’s Coming Through My Window’

A Terrace Road resident told the Medford City Council Tuesday that noise from the air-handling units at Lawrence Memorial Hospital has been disrupting her neighborhood for three years.

“It sounds like an airplane’s coming through my window,” Michelle Casey, of 98 Terrace Road, said.

“It’s 24/7,” she added. “I can’t open the windows in my home, have to keep the TV on constantly … Quite frankly, we haven’t slept in our neighborhood for over three years.”

Casey said she has lived in her home, at the corner of Terrance and Lawrence roads, for 18 years, but she and her neighbors starting noticing the noise, which sometimes is just a buzzing noise, about three years ago.

She said she has been in talks with hospital officials, but, despite being polite, they have been slow to act. They were supposed to hire an engineering team to address the issue over the summer but never did, she said.

“They have acknowledge there is definitely a noise issue,” said Casey, who added that the hospital even offered her an office in the hospital in the meantime since she works from home.

In a 7-0 vote, the council decided to send a letter to hospital officials, urging them to solve the problem ASAP.

“In my opinion, it’s unacceptable,” Councillor Michael Marks said.

Councillor Robert Penta added, “This is a lingering, festering problem that needs to be resolved … I don’t think this neighbor or the neighborhood should be subjected to this.”

White Tanks

In addition to the noise issue, Casey said the hospital’s large white tanks, which were recently moved, are unsightly.

“We’re living in a beautiful neighborhood, and they’ve added an industrial feel,” she said.

In its letter, the council requested that shrubbery be used to block the tanks.

“It’s a very reasonable request,” Councillor Paul Camuso said.