Eric Thunem

Town Council Votes 8-4 To Pass Summertime Ban on Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers in New Canaan

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Following years of stop-and-go community efforts, New Canaan’s legislative body last week passed a summertime ban on gas-powered leaf blowers. 

The Town Council voted 8-4 in favor of the ban, with a handful of exemptions, during its May 20 meeting. Under the new ordinance—whose full text can be read here under “Exhibit A” (scroll down)—gas-powered leaf blowers will be banned from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Exemptions include using gas-powered leaf blowers for emergency and safety purposes, for storm clean-up, by the New Canaan Department of Public Works and “use by residents on hard or man-made surfaces.”

Violation of the ordinance will result in a warning on first offense, $100 fine on second offense and fine of at least $250 after that, under the language developed over several months by the Town Council’s Bylaws and Ordinance Committee. Just how a violation will be reported and addressed wasn’t immediately clear—under the Town Charter, the noise ordinance is enforceable by police—a concern raised by Council member Eric Thunem, one of four “no” votes. “I believe the ordinance as drafted is over-reaching and fails to recognize the burden that will be imposed upon many resident taxpayers who will see increased costs from landscaping companies providing them with services,” Thunem said at the meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference.

Eric Thunem

Town Council Committee Nears Proposed Ordinance Banning Summer Use of Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers

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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.

Eric Thunem

Town Council Approves 2.75% Salary Increase for First Selectman, Calls for Explanation on Town Clerk, Treasurer [CORRECTED]

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New Canaan’s legislative body last week voted in favor of increasing the first selectman’s salary while also calling for an explanation as to why the Board of Finance didn’t also recommend a cost-of-living adjustment or ‘CoLA’ for two other elected officials. The Town Council during its regular meeting, held Sept. 17 in Town Hall and via videoconference, voted in favor of a 2.75% increase for the first selectman’s position for fiscal years 2026 and ‘27. Typically baked into the municipal budget, the increase must be approved by both funding bodies prior to the election on Nov. 4.

Eric Thunem

Town Council Committee Discusses Next Steps Regarding Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers

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Town officials say they need time to evaluate the merits of a citizen-led campaign to reduce the use of gas-powered leaf blowers in New Canaan. After receiving dozens of letters themselves and seeing similar ones in local news—calling for a reduction for reasons of noise, public health and environmental issues—members of New Canaan’s legislative body are calling for a comprehensive analysis before recommending any change to local ordinances. During a meeting last week of the Town Council’s Bylaws and Ordinance Committee, member Eric Thunem said: “I think we need to hear from a lot more people before we vote on an ordinance that could impact so many more things than just the noise in my backyard. There are a lot of implications that would restrict and change the economics of landscaping.”

Committee members during a June 4 meeting spent nearly one hour discussing the issue. One Committee member, Kimberly Norton, said she was “on board with moving ahead with [restrictions].”

“I think we’ve had an outpouring of letters from the public…there’s lots of interest in the issue, and I think it behooves us to take it forward,” Norton said during the meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference.

Government

Town Council Honors the Late Keith Richey

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New Canaan’s legislative body held a moment of silence Wednesday night for a longtime community volunteer who died this week. The Town Council remembered Keith Richey, who spent more than two decades on the Parking Commission, most of them as its chair, volunteered with the New Canaan Exchange Club, a service organization, and helped organize the annual “Mich-Rich Softball Game,” providing colorful roundups of the summer contest. Councilman Eric Thunem offered condolences to Marina Richey and the entire family at the start of the elected body’s regular meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. “Keith Richey was a member of the New Can Exchange Club for 33 years,” Thunem said. “I think that’s about as long as the Exchange Club has been in New Canaan.