Greenburgh Insider: Hearing-July 13th-- NO leaf blowers on Tuesday & Thursday.

 

A short term experiment to give residents a taste of quiet.

 The Greenburgh Town Board has scheduled a public hearing for Wednesday, July 13 at 7:30 PM at Greenburgh Town Hall to discuss a temporary local law dealing with leaf blowers. If the law is enacted no leaf blowers will be allowed to be used in unincorporated Greenburgh on Tuesdays and Thursdays. And -on weekends leaf blowers would only be allowed to be used between the hours of 11 AM and 4 PM. The law would only be tested for a few months -till October 15. At the conclusion of the test we will consider a longer term leaf blower law.

Enacting a leaf blower law has been among the most difficult quality of life issues to address. Very strong feelings on all sides.

There are residents who can't deal with the noise from leaf blowers. There are other residents who object to government telling them what they can or can't do. Or, who can't afford landscapers and need the blowers for their property maintenance. Some communities in Westchester only allow electric blowers but the Conservation Advisory Committee feels that electric blowers contribute to health issues -particles from leaf blowers get into lungs.

This proposed local law is a beginning. Will provide residents with the ability to experience quiet two days during the week. We can evaluate our effectiveness dealing with enforcement of the law during the period the legislation is in place. And, can also educate people about leaf blowers and options.  E mail your thoughts to townboard@greenburghny.com

PAUL FEINER

Greenburgh Town Supervisor