Swampscott discusses leaf blower rules

SWAMPSCOTT – Concerns about airborne pollutants, dust and noise emanating from leaf blowers were expressed by several area residents, who are asking the selectmen to step in.Leaf blowers dominated the conversation at the selectmen meeting Tuesday evening.Aspen Road resident Steven Dwyer urged the selectmen to take steps to regulate the use of leaf blowers in town.”It’s a public nuisance,” he said. “It’s been unregulated and the town fathers should address it.”Martha Dansdill, who is a member of the Board of Health, expressed concern about adverse health effects the use of leaf blowers could have on area residents.Dansdill, who was speaking as an individual and not for the Board of Health, said leaf blowers generate speeds of 150 to 280 miles per hour, which are the equivalent of hurricane force winds.In addition to being noisy and generating pollutants, Dansdill said the leaf blowers blow dust, pollen, pesticides and fecal matter into the air where it can remain airborne for prolonged periods of time.Resident Brian Watson also spoke in favor of placing restrictions on the use of leaf blowers. He suggested the selectmen adopt a general bylaw banning the use of leaf blowers during the summer months.Town Administrator Andrew Maylor pointed out enforcement could be an issue if it is a general bylaw.”We don’t have an enforcement agency,” he said.Watson said a limited number of landscapers work in town and he is confident they would respect the regulations so enforcement would not be an issue. Maylor countered by saying an ordinance would also apply to homeowners and many violations would occur on weekends, so it would be necessary to find a practical way to enforce it.Selectman Matthew Strauss agreed enforcement is something that would need to be looked at.”You can have all the regulations in the book,” he said. “But if we can’t enforce them we are spinning our wheels.”Chairman Jill Sullivan said a change to the general bylaw would require Town Meeting approval so there is time to work on it prior to the next Town Meeting.After approximately 30 minutes of discussion, the selectmen tabled the issue for a future meeting.