Limiting Noise in Greenwich?

As residents are dusting off their snow shovels as two snow events are predicted for the remainder of the week, a committee headed by Greenwich Selectman Drew Marzullo is reviewing a proposal to limit the use of gas-powered leaf blowers.

The committee is meeting again today at 2 p.m. in the Cone Room of Greenwich Town Hall to consider a proposed ordinance drafted by the town law department which would impose restrictions on use of the machines between April 15 and Oct. 15. The meeting is open to the public.

Serving on the committee are landscaper Joe Furano, town Conservation Director Denise Savageau, police Lt. John Brown, a medical doctor, Town Attorney John Wayne Fox and Gretchen Biggs. It was proposed a moratorium on the use of the loud, annoying leaf blowers and formed the group CALM — Citizens Against Leaf Blower Mania.

Biggs claims the noise is not only a quality of life issue but a health issue as well because of the pollutants and dust blown by the high-power machines. However, the town's health department and Board of Health has refused to discuss the issue saying it is purely a quality of life issue which is addressed by existing regulations.

Greenwich’s noise ordinance restricts the use of leaf blowers to one per parcel, regardless of size, and limits their use to 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Sunday and holidays.

First Selectman Peter Tesei has conceded the issue is a tricky one - that regardless of what the committee recommends to the board of selectmen on March 16, not everyone will be happy. He also said the town has to consider its own interests as the Parks Department uses the blowers to maintain parks and town and school properties. (Please see video.)

Tesei and Marzullo have expressed frustration that the Health Department and Board of Health have refused to address the issue or participate in the committee deliberations.

Marzullo said Tuesday, "The health department has refused ... I hope they will reconsider."

The Board of Health, which drafted the town’s current noise ordinance in 1984, and amended it in 2004 and 2006 to address the use of leaf blowers, has the power to amend it again and present it to the RTM for approval. However, that seems unlikely since the board’s Leaf Blower Research Subcommittee recently concluded that leaf blower noise, although annoying, “does not pose a threat to public health,” .

Police Chief James Heavey told the selectmen at their Jan. 19 meeting that a review of department statistics from the last three years indicates "it is not a pervasive problem" in terms of noise complaints reported to police.

Given the board of health's refusal to consider the issue, it remains to be seen what impact it could have on the members themselves who are appointed by the selectmen.

Tesei said that while "it should not be presented as a threat, one of the Board of Selectmen's primary responsibilities is to nominate candidates to boards and commissions and in our doing so we look at the overall effectiveness of the members and the board on which they serve."