Leaf Blower Ordinance Creates Heated Discussion; Not Enough Information to Pass
Last night’s RTM Ordinance Committee Meeting became heated as RTM and members of the public discussed the proposed ordinance in Westport that would limit the usage of gasoline powered leaf blowers. By the end of the four hour meeting, tempers had flared, lots of questions were raised, and the proposal could not be moved to the next phase in the RTM’s ordinance process.
The ordinance proposal would limit the usage of gasoline power leaf blowers to certain hours of the day, and only during certain weeks of the year - such as Spring and Fall periods. It also would limit the amount of blowers a property could have based on its size. The ordinance would be enforced by the Westport Police Department, according to RTM members proposing the ordinance.
The proposal comes from RTM (district) members Kristin Schneeman (9th), Andrew Colabella (4th) , and Jessica Bram (6th), and was presented to the RTM Ordinance Committee: District 7: Brandi Briggs, Chair (7th), Peter Gold (5th), Kristan Hamlin (4th), Lauren Karpf (7th), Christine Meiers-Schatz (2nd), Stephen Shackelford (8th); Kristin Schneeman is also a member of the Ordinance Committee. The meeting was attended by over 50 residents, business owners, in addition to State Representative Steinberg and employees for the Town of Westport.
Kristin Schneeman, who is the Director of The Milken Institute’s FasterCures Center and has a background in medical research, mostly spoke on behalf of the trio of RTM members proposing the ordinance and described the ordinance as necessary due to the dangers of both environmental pollution as well as the dangers to one’s health and well-being. Schneeman explained her working home for the past 15 years and the displeasure of the noise of neighbors’ leaf blowers throughout the days. After researching the topic, she said she was surprised by how detrimental the machines really were to both her health and the environment.
Westport Parks & Recreation Director Jan Fava began on a negative note, and described concern for the ordinance - stating that residents and visitors to parks such as Longshore would have to expect a different level of care if the ordinance were to pass. She explained that the Parks & Recreation crews need to use the blowers in the mornings due to tee times beginning near sunrise. Fava also described the need for powerful machines to clear debris from the fields and greens, and the need for multiple machines to cover the large spaces efficiently. Kristan Hamlin (4th) said that regardless of whether or not Longshore is a golf course, they should be held to the same standard as the property is surrounded by residential neighborhoods.
A large supporter of the ordinance was Dan Delventhal, who owns Mowgreen landscaping company. Delventhal’s Fairfield-based company is a fully-electric landscaping service, and services some homes as large as 5 acres “fully electric.” He cited the machines’ long term cost savings in addition to their benefits to health and air pollution. He claimed that 2019 say a 3.5% increase to greenhouse gases, with “10% of all air pollution coming from small gas gear.”
The conversation quickly became heated, as RTM members Jimmy Izzo (3rd) and Peter Gold (5th) began a debate when Gold described a hypothetical comparison: chemical run-off onto a neighbor’s lawn being similar to noise pollution from a neighbor’s gas powered leaf blower bringing up. Izzo, who was apparently not in favor of the proposal, shouted at Gold after the fellow RTM member mentioned his name “don’t tell me what to do with my equipment!” before a point of order was called.
Wendy Batteau (8th) was also opposed to the ordinance, citing the community’s responsibility to look out for the landscape workers serving the community. She described her worry for them and their businesses, including the inability to attend the Zoom meeting due to lack of access. She quickly added that she didn’t appreciate “stealth lobbying” performed by the proposing members, including an 11:00 PM phone call to her the night before the ordinance committee meeting by Schneeman.
Several local landscapers spoke up on their own behalf, like Westport’s Donny Macaluso, who described the large investments he’s made and the loss he would suffer should the ordinance pass.
RTM member Andrew Colabella stated that Westport Police Chief Foti Koskinas was uncomfortable with the idea of police enforcement of the ordinance due to the type of evidence a private citizen’s report would contain. Colabella also described the Department being low on manpower, stating that the usual 64 member force is “well under that” right now . Schneeman added to the enforcement portion of the ordinance, stating that “we wouldn’t want police officers in police cruisers rolling up to landscaping crews in Westport, for a variety of other reasons.” She did not elaborate.
The meeting, which ended around 11:30 PM, did not provide enough information for the ordinance to pass onto the next phase - as all present members of the Ordinance Committee, except Schneeman, voted to push the proposal back to other committees for further discussion and conversation prior to its return to the Ordinance Committee.
Positive Changes: Selectmen Discuss Fine Arts Fest, Pedestrian-Only Church Lane, and Garden Club Plant Sale at 9 AM Meeting
A slew of warm-weather topics will be discussed at this morning’s Board of Selectmen meeting. The Board of Selectmen’s agenda describes several activities which were cancelled or changed in 2020 due to the pandemic, making 2021 the year of their return - if permitted. Residents and local business owners are urged to attend meetings such as this to voice their opinions on the topics at hand.
Returning events would include the Downtown Merchant Association Fine Arts Festival, which is slated to be held on the weekend of May 29th if approved by the Board, and the Westport Garden Club’s Annual Plant Sale, which would be held on Jesup Green on Friday, May 14th if approved.
They will also discuss the closure of Main Street on May 1st for the Downtown Merchant Association Fitness and Health event, which included fitness classes and information on health and wellness throughout the day on the business section of the street.
Many residents loved when Church Lane was closed to all vehicle traffic in Summer 2020, allowing it to be used completely by pedestrians and restaurants for additional outdoor seating. If approved, the street will again be closed from April 30th until September 30th to allow pedestrians and diners alike to enjoy the extra downtown space alongside the newly renovated Bedford Square throughout Summer 2021.
The meeting begins at 9:00 AM today, and can be seen on Optimum channel 79, Frontier channel 6020, or online at this link.
Public comments in support or opposition to the above topics can be emailed to BOScomments@westportct.gov.
“COVID Has Proved how Creative, Resilient, and Compassionate Westporters Truly Are”, First Selectman Marks One Year Anniversary
Press ReleaseFirst Selectman Jim Marpe today issued the following statement on the one-year anniversary of COVID-19 impacting Westport:
Today marks one year since Westport Weston Health District Director Mark Cooper, Westport Public Schools representatives, my fellow Selectpersons, various department heads and I held a press conference on the steps of Town Hall addressing the new “coronavirus” spreading throughout the world. At that time, we knew that COVID had been discovered in Westport, contact tracing efforts could not control its spread, and that community members should be made aware of the serious health and safety issues associated with the virus. We announced that the Public Schools and other town facilities would be closed. We were unaware of how circumstances would unfold in the coming days, weeks, and months to follow.
In the following days, as the town was further shut down and we all entered a phase of self-isolation, I was imploring everyone to “stay safe and stay home.” I reminded Westporters to maintain “virus distancing” everywhere; that stores and certain businesses remained open only to insure that food and essentials were available to the public; and that all other activities where people may congregate in groups must be avoided.
In short order, we realized what services were considered essential. We became reliant upon take-out food, curbside pickup, and planned for lines outside grocery stores and pharmacies. Working and schooling from home, scrambling for masks, toilet paper and disinfectant became common occurrences. It was a confusing and unsettling time. In retrospect, however, I believe the common conversations and collective experiences were a way to self-manage the significant emotional toll the pandemic was having on our lives.
We continue to remain careful and vigilant. Thankfully, due to many positive developments throughout the year, the science and information now available provides an understanding of what we must do to contain and combat the virus. I am very thankful that we are in a position today to state that we are beginning to see an end; that much of the unknown has become known; and that we are stronger as a result.
On this solemn anniversary, I send my deepest condolences to those who have lost a loved one and to others who have seen the devastating effects of this pandemic. As a community, we mourn with you and send loving thoughts that the memories of your family members and friends will sustain you in this difficult time.
I would be wholly remiss if I did not emphatically state that, despite its obvious impact, COVID has proved how creative, resilient, and compassionate Westporters truly are. The support for first responders and health care workers, words of encouragement, heart-shaped signs, painted rocks, and donations of handmade PPE, proved to be a motivating force for many. These acts of kindness brought a sense of peace and calm during extremely challenging times. The community spirit and collective concern for all was, and continues to be, uplifting.
In conclusion, I want to express my sincere gratitude to the Westport residents, businesses owners, religious leaders, Town employees, and the multitude of volunteers who offered advice, maintained services, provided comfort, financial support, and generally surpassed expectations in caring for all of our neighbors. Your cooperation and unselfish participation, under extreme conditions, was extraordinary. I will always be thankful that Westporters were able to respond to and meet the unique challenge that was COVID. And I am confident that brighter days are ahead. Please continue to be safe and healthy.
For more information on Westport’s response to COVID-19, visit westportct.gov/covid, or wwhd.org. For up-to-date information on COVID-19 vaccination distribution plans in Connecticut, visit ct.gov/covidvaccine.