Leaf blower legislation alert!
Tomorrow (Tuesday, November 1, 7:30 p.m., Town Hall), the Representative Town Meeting holds a first reading. of the newly revised leaf blower regulation.
Click here to read the full proposal. (Hat tip: Peter Gold)
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Jim Kemish — son of former 1st Selectman John Kemish — now lives in Boca Raton, Florida.
The other day his neighbor Adam, and Adam’s daughter, knocked on Jim’s door. She was selling coupon books to fund her class trip to Washington.
Jim asked them in, and Adam admired the art on the walls.
Jim pointed to his favorite print and said proudly, “That was done by one of my high school art teachers.”
He was stunned when Adam replied, “That’s a Jim Wheeler!”
Jim Kemish and Adam Goby had been dog-walking buddies for a couple of years. But they never knew they both went to Staples — in fact, Adam’s father Dave was a highly respected biology teacher there — and that, to top it off, both were Jim Wheeler fans.
Jim and Adam both wondered if Jim is still alive.
I told them: Not only alive, but healthy, active — and still drawing!
Jim Kemish’s Jim Wheeler print.
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Tonight, the streets around Compo Beach will be flooded (with trick-or-treaters).
There’s safety in numbers. So hopefully, not even the littlest one will be scared off by this guy on Soundview Drive.
(Photo/June Rose Whittaker)
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Also tonight: kids begging for candy on Lone Pine Lane will have to navigate past these eerie inflatable eyeballs.
(Photo/Mark Mathias)
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Meanwhile, as Halloween fades into the rear view mirror — except, of course, for your kids’ 3 tons of candy — it’s time to think about our 2nd “06880” Holiday Stroll.
Mark your calendar for Friday, December 2 (5:30 to 7:30 p.m.). It’s right after the tree lighting — just walk down the Town Hall hill to Main Street.
This year, we’re partnering with the Westport Downtown Association. Details will be announced soon — but right now we’re looking for a Santa Claus and a face painter.
If you can help in either role, please email 06880blog@gmail.com. Thanks in advance!
Staples Orphenians’ will once again sing at the Holiday Stroll.
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The weather is turning colder. But last week was delightful — perfect beach weather. And there’s no better place to catch some rays — and catch up on reading than Compo.
(Photo/Howard Silver)
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Claudia Sherwood Servidio took her first hike yesterday at Haskins Preserve. Like everyone who discovers the hidden gem on Green Acre Lane, off Compo Road South, she was awed.
For a bit of what you’ll see, at this Aspetuck Land Trust property, check out this “Westport … Naturally” image:
(Photo/Claudia Sherwood Servidio)
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And finally … ain’t no haint gonna run me off!
(Want to treat “06880” to a contribution? Just click here! And thank you, of course.)
I just sent this email to the full RTM:
Dear RTM Members,
I have read with interest the updated proposed leaf blower ordinance.
I find it continues to be a train wreck of legislation for the following reasons (there are more, but I’ll be brief):
First, it fails as an environmental benefit. No distinction is made between 2 stroke and 4 stroke gas powered leaf blowers, which have substantially different emission profiles. Furthermore, it only addresses one specific yard tool.
Second, it fails as a sound benefit. Leaf blowers make noise regardless of their power source. It doesn’t address other machines that make noise.
Third, the legislation is incomprehensible when people can and cannot use them. It’s contradictory about using them during the year and on holidays. And who is the RTM to say homeowners can’t maintain their property on a holiday?
Most importantly, the enforcement of this has been reduced to sending out informational literature. That means it has no teeth. Without teeth, this should not be an ordinance. It should be an RTM Sense of the Meeting. Do not clutter up our Town’s legislation with an ordinance that has no effect.
There are lots of ways to encourage people to “go green.” This isn’t one of them.
Regards,
Mark Mathias
P.S. Within a few years, it will be nearly impossible to buy yard equipment that’s gas powered. Everything will be electric. If the RTM does nothing, this is a problem that will solve itself. Sometimes doing nothing is the smart thing to do.
I wonder what is more damaging to our air quality- running gas powered equipment or gas powered vehicles idling unnecessarily?
The RTM should limit “leaf mitigation equipment” to manually powered implements but that would be rakism.
Mark Mathias is right on the money with his comments. Thank you!
Agree with Mr. Mathias. And i would add, if it’s good enough for the residents, it should be good enough for the Town, State and Utilities. If the Town, State and utilities aren’t required to abide by the regulation, then it isn’t important enough to be passed.
Please remember that we have many homeowners who do not employ outside landscapers. We do our own yardwork. The way this is written, it ignores working people who need to use their time off to maintain their property.
I maintain my own property and have a gas blower. When the rule takes effect I’ll be happy to have a reason to splurge on an electric blower and sell the old one.
Regarding the proposed Leaf Blower ordinance:
“Only one (1) Gas-Powered Leaf Blower may be used on a property of one-quarter (1/4) acre or less.”
This one is just silly, as it takes 2 blowers half the time to clear the property as 1 does. One blower for an hour, or two blowers for half an hour? Same amount of air pollution, same overall amount of noise pollution. Personally, I’d prefer twice the noise for half the time, but ultimately it makes no real difference. Someone didn’t think this one through.