An ordinance that would have required landscapers in Stamford, Conn., to purchase quieter leaf blowers beginning next year was shot down by the board of representatives at its regular meeting last week.
The board voted against the legislation, 23-12, which would have mandated landscapers and other lawn-care professionals to use leaf blowers with a label certifying its noise output of 65 decibels or less.
At a public hearing held last month, city landscapers expressed their concerns with the proposed ordinance, and felt it unfairly targeted the landscaping profession.
"I agree it would be nice if we had a quieter solution (for leaf blowers)," said Steve McDermott who owns a landscaping business in Stamford, at the April 21 hearing. "But I don't know why landscapers are being singled out."
City Rep. Arthur Layton, R-17, who is vice chair of the legislative and rules committee, said he was surprised the ordinance failed considering it passed overwhelmingly for publication at April's regular meeting.
"People (on the board) thought it was to much interference and that it was an ordinance that wouldn't be enforceable," he said.
During April's committee meeting, the ordinance passed by a vote of 6-0, with one abstention.
"I can completely appreciate and understand the quality of life issue with leaf blower noise," said City Rep. Scott Mirkin, R-13. "But what I'd like to see is regulation come from the top down."
Mirkin and others would like to see noise standards set by the industry or the federal government, rather than by piecemeal.
The ordinance did not required homeowners to use quieter equipment, part of the reason why the board voted against it, Mirkin said.
Layton said he does not anticipate the noise ordinance regulating leaf blowers to be put forward again by the legislative and rules committee.