A committee of New Canaan’s legislative body is working to move a proposed ordinance for a seasonal ban on gas-powered leaf blowers to the full Town Council.
Amid several differences of opinion, members of the group’s Bylaws & Ordinances Committee last week homed in on a draft version of what would be a new local law if the Town Council—following a future public hearing—votes in favor.
As it stands, the proposed ordinance calls for a ban on the use of gas-powered leaf blowers from Memorial Day to Labor Day, with some exemptions (see below), as well as a ban on electric leaf blowers during the same summer period outside of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and 12 to 4 p.m. on weekends.
The exemptions that the Committee is considering in the use of gas-powered leaf blowers during the summer period—there’s no limit outside of those approximately three months—include for emergency and safety purposes, storm cleanup or snow removal, Department of Public Works use and/or public utility companies clearing debris that affects essential services.
The Committee also is weighing an allowance for property owners using leaf blowers for a very short period of time to clear “hard surfaces” such as sports courts, decks and walkways.
Committee members in favor of the draft ordinance point to a desire for more quiet in the summer as well as the environmental and public health benefits of reducing the use of gas-powered leaf blowers. Those voicing concerns about it raised questions about unintended financial consequences, including higher costs for landscaping companies that will be passed along to taxpaying residents, compliance and enforcement.
The Committee’s vice chair, Eric Thunem, spoke out against any type of ban on electric leaf blowers.
“I don’t remember hearing anyone complain about the use of electric leaf blowers and I strongly believe we should not be putting any restrictions on electric leaf blowers in this ordinance draft,” Thunem said during a discursive Jan. 29 meeting that lasted nearly two hours, held at Town Hall and via videoconference.
He continued: “With respect to gas-powered leaf blowers, I want to make clear that I am not opposed to restrictions during the summer. What I am opposed to is a complete ban on gas-powered leaf blowers in the summer, and I think a step-by-step approach makes a lot more sense… We have not heard from a majority of town residents on this issue.”
Thunem said he favored an ordinance that would start out by taking the restrictions proposed for electric leaf blowers during the summer period and applying those to the gas-powered equipment.
Addressing concerns about rising costs for landscapers, Committee member Kimberly Norton said, “As much as I am sympathetic to their arguments, we are representing the residents, not lawn care companies. So lawn care companies can still do business, but this is a tweak in the way they have to take care of lawns and it’s only for the summer. They can do whatever they want the rest of the year.”
Committee Chair Hilary Ormond called for the group to meet once more prior to bringing a draft ordinance to the full Town Council, hopefully before the legislative body takes up the municipal budget.
Committee members discussed, and often disagreed on, several specifics of a possible ordinance. They include how residents would be notified of the change, who would enforce the new local law (Norton noted that, by Charter, ordinances are enforced by police), how fines would work, the exact hours of a summertime restriction on use of electric leaf blowers, dates of the summer ban and when the ordinance would take effect. A printed copy of the draft ordinance before the Committee was distributed to members of the public in attendance, though the town did not immediately respond to a request for a copy of it.
Rather than figuring out all the specifics, Ormond said the Committee should focus on getting a strong draft ordinance in front of the Town Council for the full body’s own extensive review.
“I don’t want perfect to be the enemy of good, especially when we are starting out,” she said.
Ormond said that the town has considered a possible ban or restrictions on gas-powered leaf blowers for at least five years, and that the issue returned with force last summer.
Thunem said the ordinance that the Committee is thinking of passing along to the full Town Council is “essentially unenforceable.”
“I don’t know who is going to be enforcing this ordinance,” he said. “My supposition is that the New Canaan Police Department has far higher priorities on its agenda of things they need to do. I don’t see the New Canaan Police policing town residents on their use.”
Regarding questions of compliance among residents and commercial property owners, Ormond said, “You are never going to get 100% compliance out of the gate for any law or ordinance.”
In addition to Ormond, Thunem and Norton, Committee members in attendance included Mike Rodgers, Cristina A. Ross and Maria Naughton. Committee members Jennifer Zonis and Heather Russell were absent.