Newton Aldermen are considering an ordinance to limit the use of leaf blowers and ultimately ban their use altogether.
Current rules allow leaf blower use between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on weekday and between 9:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays.
The proposed ordinance would:
- Ban the use of all leaf blowers until June 1, 2018 except between March 15-May 1 and from Oct. 15-Dec. 1 and also restrict the hours when leaf blowers can use to 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. on weekdays and 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. on Saturdays
- After June 1, 2018 no leaf blowers will be allowed at any time, except following “times of emergency” such as a storm, as declared by the mayor.
How do you feel about the proposal? Vote in our poll and explain why below.
[polldaddy poll=”8888483″]
A public hearing will take place on Thursday, June 10 at Newton City Hall beginning at 7 p.m. Here’s some documents related to this issue that are posted on the city’s website…
Articles and Other Submissions
Letters Opposed to Leaf Blower Regulations
Letters in Favor of Leaf Blower Regulations
I do not support Newton’s proposed leaf blower for three reasons:
1. It’s a draconian expansion in the size and scope of local government
2. The Program and Services Committee did not have the courtesy of consulting with Newton-based landscapers before drafting its leaf blower ban. The Program and Services Committee did not give the opportunity for Newton-based landscapers to provide professional input in this ordinance, yet the group banning leaf blowers had two members involved in writing this ordinance.
3. Newton’s elected officials should be focused on higher priority problems in the city, such as resolving its $1.15 Billion pile of debt and retirement benefit obligations (and doing so without adding to the taxpayers’ burden).
I don’t support a full ban. I’m surprised landscapers were not involved in helping to develop the proposed ordinance, particularly ones who live in Newton, because they could have provided valued input into how best to reach a compromise and a balance to the input of the ban advocacy group members on the committee.
In comments, landscapers have noted that a better seasonal ban would be a little longer, I think around 6 weeks in the fall and spring, and with start times somewhat dependent on yearly weather patterns, such as the snow this winter pushing spring clean ups later than usual.
I don’t use landscapers or leaf blowers and hate their loud whine, but I do believe in trying to work with all stakeholders’ needs when making legislative decisions.
Boy I would love it if I never had to listen to a leaf blower again. I work from home, and often there are are four or five of those horrible noisy machines running simultaneously, blowing dust and pollen and dried dog doo-doo into the air. If you wanted to invent a more obnoxious machine, it would be quite a challenge. Rakes work just fine, and they are actually just as fast as leaf blowers.
Marti, you overlooked the fact that the Board of Alders went out of their way to avoid getting input from landscapers regarding this ordinance.
http://newton.wickedlocal.com/article/20150516/OPINION/150517276/0/SEARCH
That’s not really a fair statement.Neither opponents or proponents were allowed to speak at the last committee meeting (it was not a public hearing). But previously (I’m not exactly sure when) the board formed a task force which by board order was to include…
That’s not to say that I like or support this item. I don’t. But it’s unfair to fault the last meeting.
Agree with Marti
I don’t like this level of micromanagement that has been increasingly evident with the BOA.
Any adjustments to the use of leaf blowers ought to be made via direct discussions with the landscapers that operate here.
Only if the landscapers are unwilling or unable to help formulate a workable approach should the BOA impose itself.
My sense of the landscapers is they ARE willing to seek a solution.
“I don’t like this level of micromanagement that has been increasingly evident with the BOA..
My sense of the landscapers is they ARE willing to seek a solution.
Read more: POLL: Do you favor Newton’s proposed leaf blower ban? | Village 14 City of Newton, Massachusetts http://village14.com/newton-ma/2015/05/poll-do-you-favor-newtons-proposed-leaf-blower-ban/#ixzz3b4RKpEIB
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Wow! I actually found myself in agreement with Dan Fahey. I too got the sense that the landscapers were tired of the Two Minutes Hate directed against them by the anti leaf blower crowd and were willing to pull up a seat at the table in order to find common ground.
I also find it ironic that the board rubber stamps Mayor Warren’s budgets by margins exceeding 90% with very little discussion (except to beg for more spending for pet programs), yet insists on micromanaging the lawn maintenance and shopping bag choices of Newton residents.
This is the 3rd public hearing on leaf blowers since we moved here in 2000. I know one of the biggest stumbling blocks to forming a task force on the issue has been finding lawn care professionals willing to join it. In July 2007’s public hearing a lawn care professional suggested phasing in quieter leaf-blowers (see below). If that had happened, there wouldn’t be a need for this ordinance.
PUBLIC COMMENT – NOISE ORDINANCE
Opposed to Changing the Ordinance
Joe Caruso, 26 Laurel Ave. Mr. Caruso said he was a landscaper and he thought that the
equipment that would be affected by this should be grandfathered in. When these pieces
of equipment needed replacing, then they could purchase equipment that met the 65
decibel standard. However, he felt that addressing the manufacturers was in order,
making it a state-wide issue and mandating that manufacturers make more equipment that
met this standard. Ald. Johnson asked what the lifespan of a backpack leaf blower or a
trimmer was and Mr. Caruso said about 4 years.
http://www.newtonma.gov/civicax/filebank/documents/42974/09-19-07Programs&ServicesReport.pdf
The leaf blower task force opening has been listed on the City website for over a year http://www.newtonma.gov/gov/featured/Boards_openings.asp
I this is the 2nd time the City has tried to form a task force on the issue, which I believe, was discussed at the last public meeting.
Joshua,
I get the feeling that there’s a lot of communicatopn between the Board (Council) and the Warren administration so that whatever problems the Board may have on the budget, the Warren administration already alleviated their concern. That’s why we might see so many positive votes. It’s done behind the scenes.
How many people actually know there are 8 openings on a leaf blower task force or that it exists at all? From Lucia’s link, t doesn’t seem a task force was actually formed, Greg.
Was the suggestion from the hearing in 2007 even considered?
All the more reason why everyone should visit Village 14 daily.
Of course Austin Street was being discussed for years before that became an issue as well. Just sayin’
Marti – I went to the last 2 public hearing and the Aldermen’s chambers were cram packed with people. It felt like half the crowd was lawn care professionals and their supporters. It doesn’t seem logical to me that the same people who were aware of a public meeting, wouldn’t be aware of an effort to form a task force. Esp. when it was discussed at the meeting.
There were two efforts to form a task force. One of the efforts wanted representatives from different wards and lawn care professionals (I know because I applied to be on it). I was told the task force never formed because they couldn’t find lawn care professionals to join.
I accept responsibility for not being able to pull together a leaf blower task force. Two years ago, the Board of Aldermen adopted a resolution to create a task force consisting of citizen representatives from each ward, an institution (e.g., Boston College), a golf club, a landscaping firm, and city staff. Recruiting representatives from certain quarters to serve on the task force was difficult at best, and some unanticipated family and work obligations made it even more difficult for me to f ind the time required to recruit members and organize the task force.
While there was a great deal of interest from citizens from some wards, there was little or no interest from certain other wards. And although the clerk’s office reached out to landscaping firms that use leafblowers, none expressed any interest in participating. Eventually, I was able to recruit one college, one landscaping firm that uses green technology (i.e., no gas powered leafblowers) and a golf club (Commonwealth). But by then, some of the folks who originally expressed interest were no longer interested or had moved away or had other commitments. So, mea culpa.
In the meantime, a grass roots campaign to restrict or ban leaf blowers has organized, and new members of the Board of Aldermen and Programs and Services Committee have expressed enthusiasm for moving forward with stricter regulations, with or without a task force. They approached me and other members of the board to ask for our support for some kind of restriction of the use of leafblowers, because the noise ordinance simply does not work. Indeed, even the police department agrees that as currently written, the noise ordinance is not enforceable. Now that there is a proposed ordinance on the table, I am bemused by the fact that some of the landscapers, who showed no interest in joining the task force, somehow think that was unfair. But it is what it is.
@Alderman Hess-Mahan: Thanks for that. Can you please elaborate on what it is about the current ordinance, as written, that is unenforceable? Much appreciated.
I have called the police when people using leaf blowers have been too early in the morning and have been told by the police that there is nothing they can do. On another blog, a woman wrote that a man from city hall tested the decibels of a leafblower as it was being used, she had called because of the loudness, and he told her that even though it was above the level, it wasn’t enough above the level. Sounds unenforceable to me.
Capt. Marzilli came to one of our meetings and explained the shortcomings of the noise ordinance. Basically, getting the db measurements is difficult at best, and often the landscaping crew will shut off the leafblowers and leave rather than allow the sound levels to be measured. There is also a fundamental flaw in the way the city has been measuring the maximum sound levels. The city adds the maximum noise level to the background noise levels to determine whether leafblowers exceed that level. This is the wrong way to do it, because noise is measured in decibels which is calculated by a logarithmic not an arithmetic scale. In other words, two leaf blowers that are 65db each do not produce a sound that is 130 db (“The Who” in concert!). In fact, two sources of identical loudness will only increase the cumulative number of decibels by 3db. That is, every 3db equals a doubling of sound pressure. The other problem is that noise increases the closer you are to the source, which is why the ordinance talks about db level at 50 feet or the nearest property line. Of course, leafblower operators move around so this is a wholly ineffective way to measure the true noise level.
Capt. Marzilli recommended instead that a ban, whether seasonal or year round and/or by hours of the day, would be the most effectively enforceable kind of regulation of noise made by leafblowers. He also recommended a single fine rather than a fine that increases with the number of violations (something I would prefer as well for ease of enforcement). That is not to say the NPD endorsed a ban. Rather, Capt. Marzilli was merely opining on what would ind of regulation would be most easily and most effectively enforced.
Landscapers and manufacturers mostly advocate for the same regulations we already have for noise and time restrictions, plus requiring that leafblowers meet certain noise level requirements. But that does not really solve the noise and pollution problem for many residents who suffer adverse health and quality of life impacts from the overuse of leafblowers.
Mark Dionne, your comment “Rakes work just fine, and they are actually just as fast as leaf blowers.” is highly questionable. Any evidence to support your claim?
@Alderman Hess-Mahan: First time post here. You are clearly supportive of a ban / implementation of restrictions in Newton. Not knowing much about you nor which Ward you represent (apologizes – this is my responsibility…), I would like to provide the following comments as a homeowner who still cleans up his own leaves and other yard work – which might offer a different perspective of “Lawn Service Providers” vs. “People Who Believe Blowers are Evil”:
– I get the idea of having restrictions on usage hours during the day (mostly in the early am) and noise. I am not supportive of an all out ban in 3 years as it will only negatively impact our experience living in Newton. The idea that it will take the same amount of time to rake as to supplement taking with some blowers as proposed by some is assine.
– The proposed permanent elimination of leaf blowers in 3-ish years will be a meaningful cost impact for us as it will require homeowners like us to hire outside help to clean leaves – not to be confused with other valid comments of Landscaping Service cost increases for residents currently using contractors. We have about 10 mature hardwood trees on our lot not to mention leaves from neighbors (which we enjoy the rest of the year) that also end up on our lawn for bagging. In addition to the increased burden of cost and time that this legislation will force upon us in 3 years, the downside of this elimination is that we will like end up cutting down 1-2 50+ year old mature Norway maples – which provide a great deal of benefit to adjacent neighbors.
– The December 1st start date for a moratorium during the proposed 3 year period is not reflective of tree species growing in New England. If you speak to any arborist they will explain that Norway Maples are prevelant and considered to be an invasive species as they start growing early and drop leaves late. I am picking up Norway Maple tree leaves frequently in the first week of December. Also, it is worth noting that the City’s leaf pickup schedule end is after December 1st.
– The proposed elimination of Sundays during the reduced season for leaf blowing ignores requirements from working families. Both my wife and I work yet maintain our yard. The concept of eliminating Sundays (during the proposed 3 yr sunset period) during a reduced season effectively says that if we can not bag leaves on Saturday due to rain, extensive child soccer practice runs, etc. that we are relegated to hoping that we can get to leaves on the next Saturday (hope it doesn’t rain) or hire outside help. I’m not sure how this proposed legislation helps working families at all.
Thank you for considering other perspectives – which are not necessarily part of what I consider to be a very loud minority percentage of constituents.
Brant, welcome to Village 14. One of the reasons we are allowing public comments at an upcoming meeting is to get information from residents and others regarding the impact of the proposed ordinance. I will take everyone’s comments into consideration, as I am sure all of my colleagues will, as well. It is possible that amendments to the current proposed ordinance will be made based on the comments received.
Thank you Alderman Hess-Mahan. I do hope that I am able to re-arrange precious travel commitments to provide personal comments. I do hope that you are able to address the specific points on impacts to Newton working families who do rely upon some use of blowers to manage their own lawn care. As I know you are aware, this conversation needs to address residents who are not only from the landscaping industry and are NOT in favor of the proposed legislation as it is currently drafted. Please include my comments into your portfolio of opinions on this matter.
Brant, you can always submit your comments to the aldermen in writing by email at [email protected] or by mail at Board of Aldermen, Newton City Hall, 1000 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton, MA 02459.
I’d vote for keeping them from October through December 15, and ban them besides that. Most of my neighbors use them through a lawn service, and a huge portion of the time they are blowing dust around the property. When the leaves fall, make them legal.
Can we also inquire what other jurisdictions do?
I will also point out (and have sent to the esteemed Aldermen as suggested) that to ban leaf blower use on Sundays deprives the (shrinking but present) population who observe the Jewish Sabbath from their one possible weekend day on which to use leaf blowers.
@Fignewtonville – Here’s a few town’s regs:
Brookline:
* Gas powered leaf blowers are only allowed between March 15 and May 15 and between September 15 and December 15.
* All leaf blowers are only allowed allowed between 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and between 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
* All leaf blowers must comply with the noise level limit in the Noise Control By-Law.
Arlington:
The new bylaw, which was developed by a Town Meeting committee, allows commercial and town employees to use leaf blowers from Sept. 15 to June 15. Then, from June 15 to Sept. 15 (the restricted months), they can use leaf blowers from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8-4 p.m. Saturday. Under the new bylaw, residential use is regulated by the town’s noise bylaw.
There are other restrictions as well: no more than one leaf blower is allowed to be used on any lot of 6,000 square feet or smaller, for instance, and leaf blowers are only allowed for 30 minutes at a time (with 15-minute breaks required).
Cambridge:
Dates Leaf Blowing is Permitted
March 15 – June 15
September 15 – December 31
Hours of Use (during permitted dates)
Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m.
Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Those are the only towns I saw that have bans, there may be more though
“local government is not a solution to our problems.
local government is the cause of our problems.”
I, too, don’t understand why there would be a ban that affects different religions unequally. What about just banning them before noon on either weekend day? That would make us night owls happy. 🙂
I live in Chestnut Hill area of Newton and I just found out yesterday about the proposed ban from my lawn care company. I am absolutely astonished as to why someone would even contemplate something like that? Do we have no other concerns in Newton to worry about?? The noise complaints can easily be mitigated by hours restriction, the pollution from the engines concerns are simply laughable (how many of you who are so concerned drive SUVs or minivans?), the dust issue is kind of a non-issue to me. It quickly settles down. I live in a leafy neighborhood, and I shudder to think about the cost involved if leaf blowers can no longer be used. There are many elderly residents on fixed income for whom taking care of their lawns is not an option. What’s next? Snow blowers? I strongly oppose this ban.
Irene, Edmunds tested a gas powered leaf blower against a 6,200 pound Ford Raptor pickup truck dubbed “the ultimate Michigan mudslinger” and determined that the leafblower produces the same amount of harmful emissions in a half hour of yard work as the pickup truck would generate on a 3,900 mile trip from Texas to Florida. Dust, herbicides, herbicides, pesticides, and particulate matter from leaf blowers can remain suspended in the air for hours and fall out over a much wider area than the yard where they are being used. Hours restrictions alone simply do not work for the many people who work at home, take care of young children, or who are seniors, as well as people with respiratory and other medical conditions or illnesses such as tinnitus and hyperacusis, who cannot escape the harmful impact of the dust, noise and pollution created by leafblowers year round. A seasonal ban would at least allow leafblowers to be used when they are most needed while protecting the rest of the general public from the most harmful impacts during the warmer months when they are more likely to have windows open and spend time outdoors.
I agree with Ted 100%. Also, I hire landscapers who rake and they are no more expensive than the leaf blower ones.
@THM – But the current proposal is a complete ban, not a seasonal restriction.
A seasonal ban would also mean you won’t see landscapers using leafblowers to blow away dirt, debris and dust from a person’s driveway and sidewalk, usually into the road or the neighbor’s property. I see this all the time.
at the very least, i’d like to see later start times on weekends. Sat and Sun should be treated equally. A sunday only ban is ridiculous.
while i think the use of leaf blowers outside the spring and fall cleanup time period is absurd, i’m also sensitive to government overreach.
one thing I haven’t seen is the idea of preferential treatment of electric blowers. I use one a few days in spring/fall and it is certainly handy. Not sure whether it is quieter than a commercial gas one, but it sure seems to be.
https://scontent.fphl1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/11059995_1070172693008008_8562908477596870119_n.jpg?oh=2174de9a91ccba3c2031d3a2ced3ca1a&oe=5695A469