Letters to the Editor

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NewCanaanite.com recently received the following letters. Send letters to editor@newcanaante.com to have them published here. (We will publish letters related to the leaf blower ban and referendum through July 22.)

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The single biggest weakness in the Gas Powered Leaf Blowers ordinance is that the ordinance’s stated objective is reducing impacts from leaf blowers, yet its exemptions allow many of the same impacts to continue based solely on the identity of the user (resident, DPW, utility, etc.) rather than on measurable factors such as noise level, decibel output, duration, or proximity to homes. It says the noise is unacceptable when a contractor uses a leaf blower however is acceptable when a homeowner does. That distinction is difficult to justify based on the stated environmental or quality-of-life objectives.

The ordinance exempts Department of Public Works, Utility companies, Storm cleanup, and Safety operations. It does not clearly define when DPW use is necessary, whether routine maintenance qualifies, whether the same activity would be prohibited if performed by a private contractor. City crews may perform activities that private contractors cannot, which raises questions regarding equal treatment. Ordinance violations will be assessed against property owners while the equipment operator is often a landscaping company, a subcontractor or a seasonal worker, yet the homeowner receives the citation?

Gas blowers are prohibited during the summer season and electric blowers are permitted only during narrow operating windows. The ordinance encourages electrification while simultaneously restricting the alternative technology. A landscaping company may have to invest heavily in electric equipment only to find a six-hour weekday operating window and a four-hour weekend operating window. Also, landscapers will likely pass through equipment conversion costs, reduced productivity cost and additional travel time due to returning to complete jobs that fell outside the permitted time. If smaller landscaping firms decide to avoid New Canaan accounts and limit service areas, residents will lose the benefits of multiple job bids and pay more due to less competition. 

The ordinance requires extra reinforcement costs for investigations, warning notices and fine collection however does not identify the funding source, personnel or methodology. The practical effect is that the Gas Powered Leaf Blowers ordinance regulates who is using the blower more than the actual noise being generated, which is difficult to reconcile with its stated quality-of-life rationale.

Vote No – It doesn’t make sense. 

Shannon Marciano

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Dear Editor:

Amidst everything written about the leaf blower ordinance, one question remains unanswered. Why is the town’s Department of Public Works exempt? Little, if anything, has been offered by way of explanation. Is it cost? Inefficiency of the required equipment?

If it’s burdensome and impractical for the town, then the same considerations should be allowed to other commercial operations. Yet as it stands, it has the look of the town exempting itself from the very requirements it’s imposing on others. 

Catherine O’Neill

10 thoughts on “Letters to the Editor”

  1. What is the date and location and times for the voting? ‘Town seems to be vague about the date, location.

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  2. Ms. Marciano:
    The new ordinance imposes no restrictions on the use of electeic or battery operated leaf blowers.

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  3. Seems DPW exemption enables town to avoid expense for new equipment. If the town feels strongly about this ridiculous issue, they should lead by example and convert their equipment as well.

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  4. If health and quality-of-life issues are the primary reason for this rediculous proposed ordinance then there should be NO exemptions. It’s obvious the DPW exemption is so the town doesn’t need to incur the cost of converting their equipment. If the town feels this is such an important issue, then lead by example. And the resident exemption is just an attempt to appease everyone. We obviously live in Shangri=La if this is our most important issue,

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  5. There have been countless comments on this issue so forgive me if this point has been raised:

    If we are considering a gas-powered leafblower ban from Memorial Day through Labor day, aren’t we ignoring the fact that this is grass-cutting season, where 90% of the landscaper’s time is spent cutting the lawn (with a gas-powered lawnmower) and 10% of the time is spent at the end of the visit to blow the driveway, terraces and walkways with a leafblower? Fall is leafblower season, when a full crew is often dedicated to removing leaves.

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    • Very valid point and ideally one should tackle the 80% low hanging fruit before going for the 20% scenario. But the primary point of this ban is to move towards electric to eliminate air pollution at source and reduce noise pollution during the summer months when residents are using their patios, barbecuing, sunning by the pool, etc.

      Switching to electric in summer could, in theory, lead to electric becoming the standard all season without an ordinance as it is unlikely that landscapers will carry both gas and electric for every job.

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