Swampscott health board undecided on leaf blower ban

SWAMPSCOTT – The Board of Health heard sides for and against the proposed summer ban on leaf blowers at a public hearing on Tuesday, which will appear as an article at Town Meeting on May 6.The proposed ban would not allow any leaf blowers to be operated except in the spring between March 15 and May 15, and in the fall between Sept. 12 and Dec. 15. so as to reduce noise, carbon emissions and particulate matter like dust and remnants of animal feces that residents argued were harmful to their health. The bylaw would not apply to town use of the leaf blowers. Violators of the bylaw would be subject to fines ranging from $50 to $200.?It?s just constant, the noise and smell of power equipment,” said resident Elizabeth Burns. “The quality of life in summer is really almost ruined if you try to sit on your screen-in porch.”Landscapers argued that the ban would hurt their business. Tom Caliguire of Master Gardener, Inc. said the ban could result in a 20 percent cost increase per job. “It would really hurt our clients,” said Caliguire. “To use a broom and shovel would take hours, and we would have to charge for that.”Caliguire said some part-time companies were making veteran contractors look bad by not being courteous to neighbors or pedestrians.Landscapers also argued that sweeping and raking would not be efficient and could leave behind lawn trimmings that could clog drains during a storm, leading to more flooding.?We try to make this efficient as we move forward in industry because people are becoming very price conscious,” said landscaper James Walde. “We need to do our work as quickly as possible.”After the hearing, board member Dr. Deborah Shelkin Remis said she was too torn to vote. Remis, who said she had landscapers service her own lawn, said based on principle, “If we as a board think this is a health issue, it should be banned all year long ? not just four months a year.”The board ultimately decided to table their recommendation to Town Meeting to their next meeting in order to take time to decide on their position.Kait Taylor can be reached at [email protected].