The timing was exquisite.

Just as Town Councilor Scott Gleeson asked his District 1 constituents Tuesday if they had further comments about a proposed train quiet zone, the Amtrak Downeaster rolled past the Freeport Community Center.

The train blared its horn during a town-sponsored workshop, then someone opened the back door to afford a better appreciation of just how loud the horn truly is.

The quiet zone will come to be, as councilors voted Tuesday to submit paperwork to the Federal Railroad Administration that it intends to establish quiet zones.

The council also voted to create a subcommittee to work with the Town Manager Peter Joseph and the town engineer to evaluate and recommend which supplemental safety measures will be installed at each of the eight “at grade” crossings in town.

“The recommended measures will be evaluated by the council for possible installation in the future,” Joseph said.

That’s fine with Amanda Klein, Kelly Fitz-Randolph and others who find the Downeaster’s horn disturbing.

Klein told the council she lost a tenant due to the noise.

“It’s extremely disruptive,” she said. “I have not been able to rent the apartment since.”

Klein, who lives on Fore Street, also said that the whistle awakens her two children, first at 6:30 a.m. and later at 8:30 p.m.

“I was hoping my family would get used to it,” she said, “and that’s not the case.”

Fitz-Randolph said she has been attending quiet zone meetings for two years.

“That horn is loud, and it’s not something we’re getting used to,” she said. “It’s not like the horns from the freight train. It’s really disruptive.”

District 1 residents also discussed traffic issues and other matters during the session, which lasted from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Peter Moulton, owner of Moulton’s, an antiques/card shop in town, brought up an entirely different topic. Moulton said he is tired of competition from the Community Center thrift shop.

“This building, run by the town, is not fair competition,” Moulton said. “This is getting out of hand. This isn’t a little thrift shop anymore. I used to drop off stuff here by the truckload. It’s not going to happen anymore.”

Moulton went on to say that he is helping to subsidize the three Community Center buildings.

“Tax it,” he said. I want Freeport Community Services taxed in all three buildings.”

After Moulton left, Wayne Hollingworth spoke briefly.

“I think that we should tax the City Hall,” Hollingworth said, tongue-in-cheek.

lgrard@timesrecord.com