The Croton Conservation Advisory Council heard a detailed pitch from the advocacy group Quiet Clean Croton for a year-round ban on gas-powered leaf blowers, reviewed a mixed Earth Day debrief, and voted to recommend a village engineering review of the Kaplan Pond spillway at its May 26 meeting.

Quiet Clean Croton Pushes Leaf Blower Ban

Dave Daly and Tom Smith, representing Quiet Clean Croton, delivered their second presentation to the council, laying out their case for a year-round prohibition on gas-powered leaf blowers. Their proposal calls for no exemptions, police enforcement, escalating fines for violations, and coordination with neighboring municipalities. The group distributed materials explaining their mission and referenced similar initiatives in other communities. Princeton, with its Quiet Princeton organization, was cited as a model, along with Larchmont and Irvington for their local laws and programs. Council members noted significant gaps in available data. While anecdotal stories about landscaping companies and local opinion circulated, there is no polling of private residents on their views about a ban, nor information on how many leaf-blowing and landscaping companies operate in the village. Rachel Bernstein had previously gathered data that could be shared with Quiet Clean Croton, and the town also holds information on noise and air pollution that could be requested. A key concern raised was enforcement. Members questioned whether a code enforcement officer or additional police officers would be needed to uphold such a ban, and whether Quiet Clean Croton should factor increased staffing and budget costs into their proposal.

Earth Day Debrief: Successes and Shortcomings

The council conducted a thorough post-mortem on Earth Day festivities. Chair Eva Thaddeus read aloud two letters received by the committee about the event. The tree giveaway drew many sign-ups but few actual collections, prompting discussion about the program's future. Concerns were raised that the giveaway may conflict with the nursery's environmental restoration mission. Thaddeus plans to contact the state nursery that supplied the trees to determine whether the distribution aligns with their goals. If not, she will discontinue the program, though she expressed openness to someone else taking it over. A native plant sale was suggested as a potential replacement — similarly inexpensive and still a draw for attendees. On the positive side, the music was well received and cost significantly less than in previous years, and there were no complaints about the absence of food trucks. However, the event lacked enough tables and chairs, recycling bins had to be sourced on site, and parking remained a mixed issue with no clear solution. Looking ahead to next year, members suggested making the children's area more educational, possibly by bringing in a recycling truck for a hands-on sorting activity. Franzoso of Franzoso's Contracting offered the committee a standing invitation to hang a promotional sign on his property. The committee also discussed expanding outreach through daycare centers, parent-teacher groups, and local businesses. Storage for Earth Day supplies has been secured at the Municipal Building, with Amy MacNamara holding the location details. About 26 signs and promotional materials are stored by John Bouchard for the Senasqua location.

Kaplan Pond Spillway Prompts Action

A letter from a resident, read aloud by the chair, raised concerns about the Kaplan Pond dam spillway, which the writer described as clogged and overgrown. The committee voted unanimously to formally recommend that the village engineer investigate the stability of the structure and its spillway to ensure it meets acceptable standards.

Committee Updates

The CLEAN volunteer cleanup at the train station, though rainy, collected 300 pounds of waste. The next cleanup was scheduled for June 6 at Silver Lake Park. The Garden Club completed its spring cleanup and was asked to garden around the new Peace Pole at the riverfront, a task that was completed and added to the village watering schedule, though weeding maintenance will be needed. On the Natural Resources Inventory, more GIS map progress has been made, with the final product — including a map and writeup of natural resources — expected by the end of summer. Cub Scouts cleaned up barberry near the swamp on the north highland loop on April 25, planting native shrubs in the same area alongside Trails volunteers. Further cleanups were planned for May 28 near the arboretum and June 13 on the upper village loop. Jason Mencher is drafting a memo for the village board with general dark skies recommendations, to be reviewed by the CCAC before submission. The Mayor's Monarch Pledge saw little progress, though leftover milkweed plants from other village programs may be acquired. Rachel Bernstein is overseeing weeding at the Gottwald Garden and the Bruce Laemmel Memorial Garden and welcomed committee member support. The committee noted that it needs an official point person — aside from the chair — to coordinate with the town and Department of Public Works during events. Mayor Brian Pugh suggested the committee's vice chair fill this role, though that position has not yet been filled. The next CCAC meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 16 at 7:45 p.m. in the Recreation Conference Room.