By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — A proposed ordinance regulating when and what kind of leaf blowers could be used in town came under a blistering attack Tuesday at a joint meeting of three Representative Town Meeting committees.

Parks and Recreation Director Jennifer Fava and Public Works Director Peter Ratkiewich both said that, as written, the ordinance would hinder their staffs from effectively doing their jobs.

Even if their departments were exempted from the rules, the proposal still should be rejected by the lawmakers, they indicated.

Officials: Electric vs. gas equipment not comparable

Electric leaf blowers and gas-powered leaf blowers “are not comparable,” Fava said. “They just aren’t. The technology just isn’t there. 

“We’re also opposed because of the limitations of the hours, and the detrimental effects that the limitations on the number of blowers would have on our efficiency,” she said.

Sharp limits on gas-powered leaf blowers reviewed

The measure — which is undergoing revisions — would allow use of gas-powered blowers in Westport during two six-week periods annually — Nov. 1 to Dec. 15, and March 15 to April 30. They would be prohibited the rest of the year.

Electric and battery-powered leaf blowers, which are not as noisy and are less polluting, would be allowed year-round. 

The proposal would grant exemptions to rules for gas-powered equipment used for golf courses and public works projects, as well as during a state of emergency.

Gas-powered blowers also would be restricted to one unit on properties smaller than an acre, two on parcels between one and two acres, and three on three-acre parcels.

Monday’s meeting involved the Environment, Public Works and Parks, and Recreation committees of the RTM. 

The committees’ work session was planned primarily to get input from officials and landscaper representatives who would be affected.

Committee leaders say public comments will be considered at future meetings as review of the ordinance continues.

Park & Rec, DPW: Leaf blowers not just for leaves

Fava and Ratkiewich said the leaf blowers are used by their departments to clear far more than just leaves. The equipment is used to clear sand, dirt and other debris from sidewalks, boardwalks, pedestrian walkways, driveways, roads, tennis courts, pickleball courts and marina docks.

Electric blowers, both said, do not perform as well. Those devices lack strength, and run out of a charge in 15 to 20 minutes, they said.

“When technology improves and ELBs [electric leaf blowers] are actually comparable to GLBs [gas leaf blowers] that would be the time for us to endeavor the use of ELBs, but at this current time the technology just isn’t there,” Fava said. 

“This proposed ordinance, in my opinion, is unrealistic and unacceptable for the parks and golf operations, and I urge the members of the RTM not to pass this ordinance,” she added.

Ratkiewich noted that one of the landscapers who spoke mentioned the word “handcuffed” several times.

“This ordinance, if passed, will handcuff my operation.”

“I have to tell you that it is so unrealistic, the way it was written, that you’d think these people don’t know what any labor force does,” he said. 

“I maintain roads and sidewalks and pedestrian thoroughfares,” he said. “I don’t clean up leaves … the way this is written I can’t do my work.”

“Gas-powered leaf blowers are an integral part of the cleanup operation,” Ratkiewich said.

“There’s a terrible misunderstanding of what we do, how we accomplish it and why we do it,” he said. 

Police concerned about enforcement

Police Chief Foti Koskinas told the committee members that he had concerns about enforcing the ordinance. He said many of the landscaping workers in the area are undocumented, and officers would have to ask for identification when responding to complaints. 

That, he said, would lead to “custodial arrests” until someone could provide proof of the leaf blower operator was, tying up police officers needed elsewhere.

Landscapers: Rules would ‘handcuff’ business, boost costs

Landscapers and groundskeepers also were critical of the proposal. While many said battery-powered technology is improving, it still lags behind the utility of gas-powered blowers and is more costly.

“You cannot handcuff us in the fall,” said Bob Iannacone, who lives in Westport and owns a landscaping business. “It is just not good business, for us, for the customers, for the town.”

Using electric blowers, he said, “We will be out there forever, and we will actually lose business.”

Tony Palmer, another local landscaping business owner, said it would hurt the time and efficiency of his crews.

“We are handcuffed with regulations, performance fines and lawsuits,” he said. “I feel that if this ban is approved and moves forward by the RTM, I’d have the right to bring suit against the town of Westport, along with my colleagues.”