Ceremonial Bugle

An Airman plays a recording of Taps on a ceremonial bugle outfitted with an electronic device in Philadelphia in March. Every day at around 8 p.m., Glen Rock Borough resident, councilman and veteran Joshua Corney plays a 57-second recording of 'Taps' through an outdoor speaker at his house, which is drawing the ire of his neighbors.

(Matt Rourke, AP file photo)

UPDATE

Every day at around 8 p.m., Glen Rock Borough resident, councilman and veteran Joshua Corney plays a 57-second recording of 'Taps' through an outdoor speaker at his house.

In previous interviews, Corney, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, said he plays 'Taps' in remembrance of others who have died or served in the military.

But the practice has drawn the ire of several other residents who live near him.

Borough Councilwoman Victoria Ribeiro, in an email Wednesday, said that she had planned to read a letter at Wednesday night's borough council meeting on behalf of some area residents who question whether playing the recording violates the borough noise ordinance. She said a number of local residents had reached out to her with complaints.

But she said she would not read the letter after a Facebook post by Corney, asking people to come out to last night's borough council meeting to hear discussion of the issue drew what she called an "extreme" reaction, including people suggesting those opposed to playing the music were un-American, or should move from the borough.

"Because of the huge, largely negative reaction they witnessed, and because of the backlash directed at me for representing them, [those who complained about the playing of 'Taps'] are horrified and want nothing more than for this all to stop," Ribeiro said.

Ribeiro said she believes that Corney's amplified record violates the borough's noise ordinance, which prohibits the playing of "radios, televisions, amplifiers, and other sound devices so as to be heard beyond the boundaries of the property from which said shall emanate" that annoys or disturbs other people.

She claims the recording plays at a level of about 80 decibels at some neighboring homes, and about 65 decibels at her home about a mile away.

"Just because something is popular doesn't make it right," Ribeiro's letter states.

Corney told the York Daily Record that he has spent about $2,000 moving, redirecting and slightly changing the volume of the speakers in response to complaints.

If playing the recording violates the borough noise ordinance, Corney suggested that church bells and Christmas carolers also may be in violation.

Corney said he's pleased at the expressions of support he's received.

"It makes me very happy," Corney said, according to the York Daily Record. "I thought I would probably get a lot of people complaining about this. It makes you feel good that the majority of people are supporting this."

Corney has been playing the recording through the speaker since at least October 2015, according to Ribeiro, and minutes from previous borough meetings show that at least one other resident has objected to the practice.

In her letter, Ribeiro is asking her other council members to require Corney to cease the playing of "Taps."

"If he would like to discuss alternatives that fit within the ordinance, or if he would like to request an exception, he is welcome to do so at any time," she wrote.