NewCanaanite.com recently received the following letters. Send letters to editor@newcanaanite.com. (We will publish referendum-related letters through July 22.)
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A good law is one that folks can follow. Recently, the Town Council passed, in a bi-partisan vote, an ordinance to ban gas-powered leaf blowers from Memorial Day to Labor Day. I know this because I was not only one of the yes votes on Town Council for the ban, but I also sit on the sub-committee that helped write the ordinance.
This decision was not lightly or hastily made. Conversations proposing this ban came from the electorate and were a steady drumbeat starting in 2021, growing louder until we passed the ordinance earlier this year. When I joined the sub-committee in 2025, much of the language of the proposed ban had already been authored by Hilary Ormond. She and I, along with four Republican and two additional Democratic town council members on the committee convened multiple meetings to which the public was invited to speak. Several members of the community came to these meetings and weighed in on the proposal, with most of the voters asking that we enact the ban. While crafting the proposal in committee, we recognized the need to balance the strong desire in the community for the peace and quiet that the ban would bring to their outdoor living space, while being sensitive to those who prefer the power and convenience of a gas-powered leaf blower.
An April 15th to October 1st ban was requested and rejected by our sub-committee; instead, we opted for a Memorial Day to Labor Day ban that delivers quiet in the peak summer months but allows for spring and fall clean-up in the shoulder seasons. We discussed a complete ban on all gas-powered leaf blowers during the summer months and a complete ban on electric-powered blowers from 7am to 7pm. These were rejected, and instead we put in a carve-out for one gas blower that can be used on hard surfaces, so you can clear grass clippings or leaves from your walkways, terraces, driveways, pool decks, and tennis courts. Electric-powered leaf blowers can be used between 8am and 4pm, so you or your landscapers can tidy up after mowing.
After passing the draft proposal in the sub-committee, it was sent over to the Town Council, where it was debated, and there were two public meetings at which town residents were invited to speak. Once again, most of the public that spoke asked for this proposal to become law. Leading up to the vote, Town Council members received multiple e-mails from community members, with the final tally being 163 for the proposal to become law and 46 against or 78% asking for the ban to be enacted.
I don’t think that a small, vocal minority got this ordinance passed. Indeed, I believe that this is a law that people in town want, and that it is a good law that is sensitive to both sides of the issue. Now that we are having a vote on it, we can put this belief to the test. I respectfully and humbly ask that you vote yes on July 25th or vote by absentee ballot in town hall now to uphold the ban and the thoughtful process that went into creating it.
Regards,
Mike Rodgers
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As NC250 Parade Co-Chairs, we thank all who supported the spirit-filled parade that occurred on Saturday morning, June 27th. We thank, most especially, the 35 local organizations that participated in a variety of ways and the thousands of spectators who lined the parade route. We hope that New Canaan’s children take away a fond memory of this celebration as many of us do from our nation’s Bicentennial in 1976.
We express sincere gratitude to:
–First Selectman Dionna Carlson and Town Administrator Tucker Murphy for their vision, support, leadership and overall positive energy.
–New Canaan Police: John DiFederico, Andrew Walsh and Jason Ferraro and all the officers who drove bicycles, motorcycles, golf carts and cars to keep the marchers and spectators safe during the parade.
–Tiger Mann and his whole DPW crew for keeping the route safe and making sure the town streets were prepared for this milestone event.
–The Parks Department: John Howe, Ryan Restivo and Stefano DiFederico who provided vehicles, pulled floats and assisted in many months of advanced planning.
–New Canaan Fire, EMS, Emergency Management and CERT including Bill Perritt, Russ Kimes, Barb Clayton, Tony Calanca, Peter Bergen, Tracey Hamill and Jim Davis who supported the parade in a myriad of ways.
–The Ranieri and Davis families and their flag distribution team for handing out almost 2000 flags preceding the parade, to Bob Doran and his group for recording the parade on video.
–Graydon Pihlaja and Barry Zhou for pulling together the town and high school bands to march together, to National Charity League for their hours of float decorating, the United Methodist Church for serving as a water station along the parade route, Marissa Lambrinos, Patricia Spugani, Joel Reynolds, Susan Wylie, SLOBS and the entire New Canaan 250th Planning Committee. Special thanks go to Brownie Troop 50230 for providing hours of volunteer effort preparing float decorations and then marching in the parade.
–The drivers who transported town floats or the parade’s Honored Guests, Frank Gallo and Janet Karl: Jim Bakal, Lisa DiFulvio, John Engel and John Murphy.
–Karl Chevrolet for hosting the decorating of the town floats and providing overnight storage. A special shout out to Mark DiFulvio, Jonathan Green, Johnny Sanchez and Rob Ferraro for helping in a special way.
–Katie Melland Proctor who drew the original illustrations of town hall, the fire station, Wayside Cross, God’s Acre, Lapham Community Center and Elm Street that formed the beginnings of the town float murals and to Dan and Elisabeth Mulhern of Milestones for allowing use of these illustrations.
–Citizens who donated to the New Canaan Chamber Charitable Fund. Your generosity helped fund Uncle Sam, the Shriners little cars and other parade details.
Lastly, gratitude is expressed to our amazing and patient husbands Scot Melland and Steve Karl. We truly appreciate your help and support as well as our kids Kevin and Brian Karl, Katie Proctor and Lydia Melland and Color Guard Colonial Soldier/Melland Son-in-Law Woodrow Proctor.
It was an absolute pleasure to plan and execute this New Canaan America 250 Parade.
Lisa Melland & Tracey Karl
NC250 Parade Co-Chairs
@Mike Rodgers – it was indeed a very long and, dare I say, at times tedious process, wasn’t it?
@Lisa Melland & Tracey Karl – The NC Swap Shop was happy to be involved with the parade, as was the NC Beautification League. Many thanks!
Mike Rodgers, thank you for your conscientious efforts and now your thoughtful explanation. I will indeed vote YES.
Sorry Mike, seems like the ordinance cuts against its own policy rationale. If “public health, safety… general welfare, peace, quality of life” for residents is the goal then why does the town have carte blanche to use gas powered leaf blowers much to the detriment of residents? Why has the regulator, in this case the Town Council, exempt itself from the very ordinance it has written which will burden New Canaan property owners? Does not the ordinance incentivize residents to purchase gas-powered leaf blowers to clean their properties that have heretofore been cleaned, much more quickly, and efficiently, by a landscaping crew? How then will there be a decrease, in the aggregate, of noise and pollution from this ordinance?
Mike,
Was this you?
Where do you stand on the proposed seasonal ban on leaf blowers?
I’m looking forward to seeing the full ordinance, but I do think that weekend bans of gas leaf blowers and heavy machinery doing construction are appropriate.
Mike Rogers writes that “a good law is one that folks can follow.” On that standard, the Town Council fell short. This ordinance is little more than a symbolic gesture filled with contradictions and confusion.
Mike, I’m genuinely curious: in all of your deliberations, did anyone recognize the mixed message created by exempting the Town from the very guidelines imposed on everyone else? If the Town Council is so concerned about the health of its citizens, why didn’t that same concern extend to Town employees?
A law that applies selectively is not clarity. It is inconsistency.
Mr. Rodgers,
Respectfully, I disagree with both your letter and the ordinance.
If this were truly a broadly supported and well-conceived law, it would not require such an extensive public campaign to persuade residents to uphold it. The fact that more than 1,000 residents signed a petition to challenge it demonstrates that there is significant opposition.
The ordinance is also inconsistent. It restricts private property owners while exempting town employees. If gas-powered leaf blowers are genuinely harmful, why should the standard be different depending on who is operating them?
The environmental justification is equally unconvincing. There is no compelling scientific basis for singling out leaf blowers while allowing other gas-powered equipment such as lawn mowers, weed trimmers, chainsaws, and other landscaping tools that generate similar noise and emissions. The ordinance appears arbitrary rather than evidence-based.
Rather than spending time and taxpayer resources regulating a seasonal landscaping tool, the Town Council should focus on issues that have a meaningful impact on residents: reducing the town’s debt, improving infrastructure, strengthening public services, and attracting businesses that will enhance our local economy.
Residents deserve thoughtful, consistent policies that address real priorities—not symbolic regulations.
And not ignoring self dealing by an elected selectman and failure of proper disclosure of such in the town’s audited financials.
Giving a pass to the First Selectman and Town CFO on Failure to disclose the results of the independent internal audit that marked internal control in procurement procedures that affects our mill rate. That is a real issue.
New Canaan has the highest bonded indebtedness per capita of any CT town. This arbitrarily defers mill rate increases to the future and gives a false sense of efficiency.
Open your eyes and fight the real battles.
As Mr. Rodgers said, when the leaf blower restrictions were being discussed in the town government where actions are taken, “…leading up to the vote, Town Council members received multiple e-mails from community members, with the final tally being 163 for the proposal to become law and 46 against or 78% asking for the ban to be enacted.” The length of time and the prior debates on this issue led up to these reasonable restrictions mindful of all the work that other neighboring towns, including the more politically rigorous town of Greenwich passed in 2024 have done.
If you look at the Greenwich leaf blower regulations they are a lot more muscular than what was passed in New Canaan:
For town employees at parks, schools and other town properties:
Gas Leaf Blower Rules for Town Workers Seasonal Ban: Gas blowers are prohibited in residential zones from 6:00 p.m. on the Friday before Memorial Day through September 30.
Exception: On residential properties of 2 acres or more, the seasonal restriction ends the day after Labor Day. Daily Hours: Regardless of the time of year, any leaf blower (gas or electric) is prohibited on weekdays between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., and on weekends/holidays between 3:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m.
Exceptions: Gas blowers can be used by town departments (like Public Works or Parks) for storm-related cleanup emergencies.
https://www.greenwichct.gov/2599/Noise-Ordinance
The restrictions for leaf blower usage are as below:
Gasoline-powered leaf blowers in residential zones are prohibited from 6:00 p.m. the Friday before Memorial Day through September 30, except for properties of 2+ acres where the prohibition ends the day after Labor Day. The first violation of this ordinance will result in a warning. A second violation will result in a $100 fine. Any subsequent violation will result in a $250 fine.
Any leaf blower may not be used between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. Monday through Friday and between 3 p.m. and 9 a.m. Saturday, Sunday and holidays.
Commercial use of gasoline-powered leaf blowers on premises in residential zones is prohibited on Sundays.
Commercial and/or residential parcels of one-quarter (1/4) acre or less may only be serviced by one leaf blower at any given time.
Electric leaf blowers are permitted year-round.
For more information, please refer to Code of Ordinances Chapter 6B.
New Canaan leaf blower regulations:
Ordinance Details (Currently Paused): The Ban Window: Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Allowed Use & Exemptions: Gas-powered blowers are permitted for storm clean-up, emergency use, and by the Department of Public Works. Residents are also allowed to use them on hard surfaces. Electric Leaf Blower Rules: If the ordinance is upheld, electric blowers will be restricted to specific hours (Mon-Fri: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; Weekends: 12 p.m.–4 p.m.; and entirely prohibited on federal/state holidays).Penalties: First offenses result in a warning, followed by a $100 fine, and $250 or more for subsequent violations.
Clearly the town public works can choose what uses to make of blowers at town parks, schools and other properties based on matters of politics, the environment and the right usefulness/nuissance balance as they transition into alternatives.