The East Hampton Town Board on Tuesday discussed a plan to amend the town code to tighten restrictions on the use of leaf blowers, with a divided board debating even greater constraints than were proposed at a public hearing in December.
Citing complaints from residents regarding the detriment to the peaceful enjoyment of their property caused by leaf blowers, a ban on the use of gas and diesel-powered leaf blowers between May 20 and Sept. 20 was proposed at the Dec. 17 public hearing. Those leaf blowers would be prohibited before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. on weekdays from Sept. 21 to May 19, and before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Use would be prohibited on Sundays and federal or New York State holidays unless operated by a property owner or tenant, who could use them only between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
At the same time, the town's energy sustainability committee has recommended codifying and mandating a phased transition to electric leaf blowers.
But on Tuesday, members of the board wondered aloud if the proposed restrictions go far enough. Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc said that several residents have contacted him to urge that the use of all leaf blowers, including quieter electric models, be prohibited at least one day per week. "I think that's something we should consider further," he said.
Lauren Steinberg of the town's Natural Resources Department, who had summarized comments received at the Dec. 17 public hearing, agreed that the most recurrent comment was a wish that no leaf blowers of any type be operated on Sundays and holidays, even by property owners and tenants. Some residents asked that no landscaping activities at all be allowed on Sundays, given the use of other noisy equipment like chain saws and string trimmers, and that the hours in which gas and diesel-powered leaf blowers could be used on other days be reduced, she said.
Councilman David Lys said that he does not support an outright ban on leaf blowers on a particular day. "A lot of us work six, seven days a week," he said. "It's challenging enough to find a couple of hours" to tend to one's property, he said, adding that he uses both a rake and a leaf blower. "It's already limiting -- working so hard, raising a family -- to be shoehorned into set time frames."
Councilwoman Kathee Burke-Gonzalez agreed. "To have a prohibition on Sunday doesn't work for our working families," she said.
"I've heard the opposite," Mr. Van Scoyoc said. "Hard-working people can have a day off and not listen to" the incessant noise of leaf blowers, he said. There are "so many intrusions, sound and noise, in our daily lives. To have a day of quiet would be supported widely," whether by working people or retirees.
Councilman Jeff Bragman voiced support of an outright ban on Sundays. There is "a larger quality of life issue here," he said. "Noise is one of the worst irritants we have and one of the most corrosive irritants in terms of our rural character and the peace and quiet here." He also supports a reduction in allowable hours of use on Saturday. "We should start toning it down."
Councilwoman Sylvia Overby said that she was torn between concern for working families who have scant time for property maintenance and the recognition that "noise is a problem, and it's a problem out here that we've been hearing for many years, especially with leaf blowers."
In addition to the noise that opponents have called an act of aggression and a violation of people's peaceful enjoyment of their property, leaf blowers expose people to carcinogens such as hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides, whipped up in windstorms of pesticides, fertilizers, mold, lead, arsenic, mercury, fecal matter, and more. Opponents also cite leaf blowers' inordinate greenhouse gas emissions and inevitable fuel spills, which can enter groundwater.
With that in mind, Mr. Van Scoyoc made a pitch for the humble, emission-free rake. "If you have to get some of those leaves moved on a Sunday, maybe just use the rake," he said. "It's also good exercise."
"I would urge us to make a strong stand for peace and quiet," Mr. Bragman said. "It's the larger issue facing the community."
Ms. Burke-Gonzalez said that board members should "make every effort to reach out to the community," including to the respective citizens advisory committees to which they serve as board liaisons, to publicize any public hearing on legislation that would further tighten restrictions on the use of leaf blowers.
