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Committee reviews draft noise code to limit gas leaf blowers and clarify enforcement
Summary
Town staff presented a proposed update restricting gas- and diesel-powered leaf blowers outside October'December hours, allowing electric blowers year-round, and discussed decibel measurement, operator liability, temporary storm waivers and garbage hauler noise enforcement; staff will circulate a working Google Doc and coordinate a public hearing.
Town staff walked the committee through a draft update to the town's noise code that would restrict gas- and diesel-powered leaf-blowing equipment to a limited seasonal window, establish permitted hours for electric equipment and clarify enforcement mechanisms.
"The prohibited noises...is the operation of any gas or diesel-powered leaf blowing equipment except from October 1 to December 15 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.," Laura Robertson, town planner, said while reviewing the draft language. Electric and battery-powered equipment would be allowed year-round between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. under the proposal.
Committee members debated whether to use a numeric decibel threshold measured with a calibrated meter or a nuisance-based audible standard. One staff member noted the liability and practical challenges: sound meters require calibration and trained operators, and smartphone apps are not reliable for enforcement. Committee members suggested a hybrid approach combining a measurable threshold for persistent problems and a nuisance standard for one-off events.
The draft would allow targeted temporary waivers after storms so residents could use gas-powered equipment for cleanup for a limited period. Members also discussed whether citations should target operators rather than owners for clarity when landscaping contractors are used, and whether fines should escalate for repeat commercial violators to deter noncompliance.
The discussion also surfaced frequent resident complaints about garbage-hauler noise in early mornings; staff said that enforcement and hours for garbage collection are governed in a different section of code and may be pulled into the same public-facing guidance to reduce confusion.
Robertson said staff (Erin and others) will compile suggested edits into a Google Doc, circulate it to committee members and aim to introduce the code updates at a future meeting followed by a public hearing. The committee agreed earlier action in August would allow the code to be in place for the October season, but scheduling may push adoption into August.
Ending: Staff will circulate the draft changes and ancillary notes; a public hearing and formal introduction to the town board will follow after internal edits and coordination with enforcement staff.
