The Quogue Village Board has adopted new restrictions on the use of gas-powered leaf blowers within the village, some effective July 1 and some taking effect next May.
The board unanimously approved the legislation during its Friday, June 18, meeting after a public hearing with feedback from members of the Quieter Quogue Initiative, a group of residents who had been seeking a total ban in the summer, and from a representative of the professional landscaping community.
The law prohibits the use of gas-powered leaf blowers on Sundays and holidays at any time of year and on Saturdays between May 15 and October 15. Outside of that date range, gas-powered leaf blowers may be used on Saturdays but only after 8 a.m. and before 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, hours are restricted to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at any time of year.
Further, beginning May 15, 2022, gas-powered leaf blowers used between May 15 and October 15 may be no louder than 65 decibels.
Sally Beatty of the Quieter Quogue Initiative wanted to know if a total summer ban on leaf blowers was on the table, “or is this proposed law the final word?” She also questioned what the enforcement plan would be to ensure the 65-decibel limit is adhered to, and she shared concerns that the two-stroke engines of gas-powered leaf blowers emit toxic fumes as they blow around grass clippings, fertilizer, animal feces and pollen.
Mayor Peter Sartorius said this law is a first step and may not be the last word. But he added that, realistically, a summer ban is not on the table for this summer and is unlikely for next year. He cited the landscapers’ concerns that electric-powered leaf blowers do not have the battery capacity and the power required for their work.
“Enforcement is going to be an issue, for sure,” the mayor said. “… We have one code enforcement officer, and he can’t be everywhere.”
He advised residents to not expect 100 percent compliance right off the bat.
Concerning pollution, Mr. Sartorius said that the village does not have expertise in that area and is not in the business of regulating it.
Steve Giuffre of Steve’s Landscaping in Quogue told the board that he and other landscapers formed a group this week to keep people informed of how the law would affect everyone. He said the board had not given consideration to the lack of effectiveness of the quieter blowers. “These blowers are going to be less than half as effective as the blowers we’re using now, so it’s going to take twice as long to do the same job,” he said. “It’s going to cost the village residents more money and also, the noise is going to be there for twice as long.”
If there are going to be leaf blower restrictions, he suggested that the village coordinate with neighboring municipalities. “I don’t want to have a different blower for every town, every village,” he said. “That’s kind of ridiculous.”
Mr. Giuffre also suggested that residents voluntarily hire landscapers who use electric equipment, if that’s what they prefer. “It doesn’t have to be for everyone a forced thing,” he said. “I don’t think that’s really fair. If the electric was equivalent to the gas, people would do it voluntarily. I mean, we don’t want to have a fight with the town, the residents.”
Village Board member Randy Cardo said he and other board members tested electric blowers and both 65-decibel and 85-decibel gas-powered leaf blowers, and they felt that 65-decibel leaf blowers would be sufficient for summer work like light cleanup after lawn mowing. He pointed out that louder, more powerful leaf blowers would be permitted after October 15 for spring and fall cleanups.
“This is part of a phased-in approach that when the technology is there we’ll probably move more towards battery, electric power,” he said. “But right now, we found that the electric couldn’t do the job even on a light basis in the summer.”
Mr. Sartorius told Mr. Giuffre that it’s not quick work that bothers residents, but the work that takes more time, namely blowing glass clippings off a mowed lawn. He said Quogue residents should realize that they are likely going to have to put up with clippings on their lawn.
Mr. Giuffre asked if the village highway barn would accept grass clippings so they could be picked up rather than blown off, but the mayor said the space there is too limited.
Mr. Sartorius added that he told his landscapers to just leave his grass clippings in place, which he has read is best for the lawn.
“Let’s be real, it’s not that big of a problem,” Ms. Beatty said. “It’s not that unsightly.”
At the conclusion of the meeting, the board unanimously approved the legislation.
“We can see how things go next year and continue to check on the technology and continue to have conversations with both the landscapers and the concerned citizens,” Village Board member Robert Treuhold said.
The village code had already prohibited landscapers from using leaf blowers on Sundays and holidays. On weekdays, hours were restricted to 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Saturdays, the permitted hours were 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. However, homeowners working on their own property were permitted to use leaf blowers any day between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
The new restrictions on gas-powered leaf blowers do not provide an exception for homeowners.
