Documents › Board Of Trustees, 2026-06-17

memo 1 page

A June 16, 2026 memo summarizes the Village Board's May 27, 2026 work session discussion of gas-powered leaf blower regulations, in which correspondence was referred to the Conservation Advisory Council for review. The Board asked the CAC to consider twelve items, including setting a timeframe for its recommendation, researching how similar Westchester County municipalities regulate gas-powered leaf blowers, reviewing enforcement success elsewhere, weighing fines and penalties, comparing gas and battery blower specifications and pricing, soliciting comments from landscapers and other stakeholders, possibly hosting a public forum, building in a phase-in period for any change, and harmonizing any recommendation with state policies including the New York State Climate Leadership Community Protection Act.

To: From: Date: June 16, 2026 Re: Summary of Leaf Blower Discussion The Village Board of Trustees discussed the existing regulations regarding the use of gas-powered leaf blowers at the work session held on May 27, 2026. In referring the various correspondence received to the Conservation Advisory Council (CAC) for their review, the Village Board also asked the CAC to consider the following items: 1. The CAC should establish a timeframe that they will submit their recommendation to the Village Board of Trustees (e.g., the recommendation will be submitted within three months of initial discussion). 2. The CAC should research how other municipalities of similar size and population in Westchester County regulate gas-powered leaf blowers and take note of differences. 3. The CAC should consider population density and tree canopy coverage in our Village compared to other municipalities in Westchester County. 4. The CAC should review enforcement efforts in the municipalities that have established more stringent gas-powered leaf blower regulations and learn how successful those have been. 5. The CAC should consider the appropriate fines and penalties that could be codified for any violations. 6. The CAC should determine whether there should be any regulations for other gas-powered equipment (e.g., gas-powered generators to recharge batteries). 7. The CAC should balance quality-of-life concerns with economic concerns for residents and local landscapers. 8. The CAC should solicit comments from local stakeholders (area businesses and landscapers, large property owners, environmental organizations, etc.). 9. The CAC should consider hosting a public forum (either in-person or virtual) to solicit feedback from residents on potential changes to the gas-powered leaf blower regulations. 10. The CAC should review specifications and pricing for gas-powered leaf blowers and battery-powered leaf blowers as part of their evaluation. 11. If the CAC determines to recommend a change in the existing regulations, a phase-in period should be built into the recommendation (e.g., the law takes effect 12 months after adoption). 12. The CAC should ensure that any recommendation is harmonized with existing policies from other levels of government (state, county, town), especially in relation to the New York State Climate Leadership Community Protection Act. Mayor