Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Rye Brook keeps leaf-blower public hearing open; grants one-year exemptions to two HOAs with conditions
Summary
The Village Board kept a public hearing open on proposed changes to the seasonal leaf‑blower law and approved one‑year exemption extensions with conditions for Talcott Woods and Kingfield homeowners associations.
The Rye Brook Board of Trustees kept a public hearing open on proposed changes to the village’s seasonal leaf‑blower law and approved one‑year exemptions for two homeowners associations on conditions meant to limit gas‑blower use.
The public hearing on amending Chapter 158, Section 2.1 — the seasonal leaf‑blower restrictions — was continued to a meeting on May 27. The board also approved exemption requests from Talcott Woods Homeowners Association and Kingfield HOA, each for one year and with operational limits on gas‑powered blowers.
The board opened discussion on a staff recommendation to remove a code requirement that officers record an initial warning before issuing a ticket. Chris (staff member) told trustees the police asked that the warning requirement be removed because “we don't have a mechanism in the field to record” warnings, and without a reliable tracking method “we're not able to issue a ticket” that would hold up in court. Trustees debated whether removing the statutory warning would give officers useful discretion or simply reduce enforceability. The board decided to keep the public hearing open to a date certain, May 27, to allow time to consider changes in the fee schedule or other tracking mechanisms.
On exemptions, the board heard from Talcott Woods representatives. Richard Mast, president of the Talcott Woods Homeowners Association, told the trustees Talcott Woods is a private development of about 25 acres with 68 homes; its landscaping contractor, Vito Longo (owner, Vito Longo Landscaping), said battery blowers are “okay” for single homes but impractical for a 68‑home complex. Mast and Longo described last year’s one‑year exemption commitments and asked for the same conditions for another year: confining landscaping to one day per week (Mondays); using mulching mower blades; allowing one gas blower plus new electric units for specified groups of homes during July and August; and running gas blowers at no more than half throttle from May 1 through Sept. 30. The board voted to approve Talcott Woods’ one‑year exemption with those conditions.
Representatives of Kingfield HOA told trustees their area comprises more homes and private roads not serviced by the town. The board and the HOA negotiated similar conditions: use of battery/electric blowers on stoops, walkways, patios and decks, and limiting gas‑powered blower use on driveways/roadways to no more than 50 percent throttle. The board moved to approve Kingfield’s one‑year exemption with those conditions and voted unanimously in favor.
Trustees recorded the outcomes by roll call: Trustee Epstein, Trustee Heizer, Trustee Krom and Mayor Klein all voted yes on the exemptions and on postponing the public hearing to May 27. The board indicated it will revisit whether to remove the warning requirement and whether to change the penalty schedule — both decisions may require additional drafting or a separate local‑law amendment.
The board heard no public comments during the hearing on the proposed code amendment and exemption requests.
The board’s action leaves the seasonal leaf‑blower framework unchanged for now except for the two granted, conditioned exemptions. The public hearing on modifying the warning requirement remains open to May 27, when trustees said they will consider final language and any fee‑schedule changes.
