PORTSMOUTH — A local business owner was scheduled to appear in Municipal Court Wednesday, Sept. 16, to answer charges that he violated the town’s noise ordinance.

Robert A. Lantz, 44, of 1322 East Main Road, was issued a summons Tuesday morning, Sept. 15, based on numerous complaints filed by a Crossings Court neighbor over noise generated at Mr. Lantz’s nearby business, Bill’s Sales.

The business sells storage sheds, stoves, gazebos, children’s play sets, lawn furniture, firewood and more.

According to police, the noise was generated by hammering, a diesel truck, logs dropping, a chain/conveyor belt and other sources.

Under the town’s noise ordinance, in residential and open space areas the sound level must be 65 decibels or lower from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and 55 decibels or lower from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. The sound levels are measured “within the real property boundary of a receiving land use,” according to the ordinance.

Police took several readings from the property that ranged from 60 to 78 decibels.

“We have tried from behind the scenes to mediate this. We don’t like to take business owners to court,” Police Chief Thomas Lee said Tuesday.

Chief Lee said Mr. Lantz has been agreeable to coming up with a plan to reduce the noise levels, but nothing has yet been done to fix the problem.

Although police have known about the noise complaints for some time — they have one report from December 2014 and others from May, June and July of this year — they weren’t able to accurately measure any sound levels until recently because their instrument was out being recalibrated, Chief Lee said.

“For a period of time, we didn’t have a sound meter,” he said.

The Crossings Court neighbor had been doing his own measurements of sound levels, but police had to record the decibel levels on a certified sound meter in order to take the matter to court, Chief Lee said.

According to Detective Lt. Alberto Bucci, Mr. Lantz was to be arraigned in Municipal Court Wednesday on four violations of the noise ordinance. The matter will go to trial next month, he said.

Violation of the ordinance is punishable by a fine of not more than $100 and/or imprisonment for not more than 30 days.