This week’s balmy temperatures and the approach of spring are turning everyone’s thoughts, once again, to…
…leaf blowers.
Former Councilman Stefan Armington, who spearheaded last year’s successful referendum to restrict noisy gas-powered leaf blowers to autumn use, visited Tuesday’s hybrid council meeting to inquire if the administration plans to educate residents about the three-season ban — and whether it intends to enforce the ordinance.
“I think the public would like to know that, especially the 1,500 or so people who supported the referendum,” Armington said.
The three-term councilman recounted the “fiasco” last year when dozens of residents got ticketed for a new ban on curbside plastic trash bags, a confusing law that was not well publicized by the town.
Mayor Tim Dougherty, no fan of the blower ban, advised anyone with a complaint: “Call Stefan.”
Just kidding, he quickly added. Dougherty said police will investigate public complaints about leaf blowers — if they are not busy with more serious duties.
Asserting the referendum was debated “ad nauseum” last year, with a door-to-door campaign by proponents and a controversial mailing from Armington, the mayor suggested council members educate constituents by responding to blower disputes armed with a copy of the ordinance.
Before stepping down last December, Armington tried to introduce an amendment to the town’s noise ordinance setting fines and spelling out who would be held responsible — property owner or contractor?–for blower violations.
At the time, town Attorney David Minchello advised that the council cannot deviate from the language voters had approved in November, not for three years. The referendum never outlined penalties or liability.
Although insisting enforcement should remain a last resort, First Ward Councilman Robert Iannaccone pressed Minchello for details about fines and enforcement. The lawyer said he would revisit the noise ordinance and report back.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DO-OVER; POND VOLUNTEERS
In other business during the brisk 35-minute session, the council, minus ailing Councilwoman Toshiba Foster, introduced an amendment to fix the town’s newly upgraded land development code. It adds a change that mistakenly got left out: Developers must include all their affordable units onsite, instead of off-loading some of them to other locations.
The council also heard some gaudy numbers from Shade Tree Commission Chairperson Kristin Ace. Commissioners, the Friends of Foote’s Pond Wood, students and Scouts last year contributed more than 2,000 volunteer hours–about $80,000 worth of free labor, Ace said. Nearly half of those hours were devoted to enhancing the 11-acres around the pond, she said.
Eighty-five trees were planted around town, along with 11 pounds of native seeds, Ace continued. More trees are coming–10 to Orchard Park next month, and four pin oaks to Burnham Park in May, to replace trees vandalized in 2023.
Sussex Avenue trees also have been vandalized, she said, noting that signs will be posted to raise awareness about proper care for “public” trees.
Armington also asked about the status of improvements to the Morris Street/Ridgedale Avenue intersection, improvements the council had required from the developer of the M Station office project. And he asked about a tennis wall that Elliott Street residents requested for their playground last year.
Responsibility for the intersection has been assumed by Morris County, which has jurisdiction over Morris Street, responded town Administrator Jillian Barrick. The county received a federal grant that comes with “a lot of red tape,” and improvements could take years to complete, she said.
The tennis wall may be funded in the upcoming municipal budget, Barrick added. “No promises, but it’s on the list for consideration,” she said.
Lastly, Gary Schmitt was appointed unanimously to the zoning board as an alternate member, through December 2025.
Back before the ban was voted on by residents, Stefan Armington misled voters by publishing a letter and a mailbox stuffer supporting the ban using the Town of Morristown logo and signing it using his formal title of “Town Councilman.” This letter led many voters to believe that his personal opinion was an official endorsement of the ban by the Town Council. It was not! I guess the ends justify the means – Right Stefan?
I have a landscaping business. To redo our blower setup with less efficient, only 12 db lower electric machines, it would cost us 12k in cash. As other people said, these are made in China with mostly plastic, and lax regulations on their factories for emissions.
And there is no replacement for our large efficient ride on blower which doesn’t use the complained about 2 cycle noisy engines. Any solution for these, Stefan?
Im not here to blame one councilman. Ive met Stefen before and I think he’s a good man. It takes a lot of sacrifice (and scrutiny) to serve in local government…
From what I saw, this started via petition from neighbors/climate activists that was a poorly thought-out idea. I had multiple neighbors approach my house to sign the petition and I refused because there were no answers to the questions I posed in my initial post – (I never post anything on social media or websites like this).
My current issue is that Im hiring a landscaper to do some work on my property and I do not know how this will play out… is he at risk of a fine? Am I? The original article encourages neighbors to report each other to the police for violations… Is this healthy? We should be encouraging neighbors to maintain their properties, get rid of invasive plants, use electric equipment (if possible) and use organic pesticides – but not mandate this via legislation.
I do not believe any landscaping firm has the finances to drop their industrial landscaping equipment to buy electric blowers/mowers and batteries because of ‘noise’ or pollution related to fossil fuels (a micro drop in the bucket). The problem behind this and most climate legislation is that it ultimately costs residents/taxpayers & businesses financially- when times are very tight. A realistic long-term solution has not been tabled so this should be shut down until there is a clarity.
Stefan did such a great job putting all this together. Why don’t you ask him or the town council what the penalties/fines are for using a gas powered leaf blower. Guess what, there aren’t any!
“Go back to work at your office, Armington, and stop being a Karen”
YES
Completely irresponsible ban not knowing the industry of the electric leaf blower, or landscaping trade. Applies the same restrictions for the maintenance of his postage stamp property to a company who has to maintain ACRES AND ACRES of properties, quickly and efficiently.
@ Kevin – This wasn’t global climate activists who dreamed up this prohibition. It was Morristown’s own Stefan Armington, who introduced the petition and shepherded it through the local ordinance process last Summer. Amazing, he even asked the first questions on method of enforcement this month, he is probably rubbing his fists together right now salivating on the opportunity to report some neighbor or their landscaper…
I can hear him now….”I’ll get you and your little dog too!”
How will landscapers (many of whom just scrape by) pay for electric blowers and the many spare batteries needed for spring cleanup? How/where will they charge these batteries? At customers’ homes? Between property visits (often 10-12 per day)? Where?
What would homeowners who own gas blowers do with them? A landfill?
Doesn’t the manufacturing of batteries do as much environmental damage? Where do used batteries go? Landfills?
I agree this is a huge waste of police resources. Would a fined resident have an appeal process? Taking up legal/judicial resources?
Who manufactures these blowers/batteries? The Chinese. The largest global producer of pollution.. Perhaps that’s where the government and environmental activists should spend their time???
This is not well thought out… Much like the plastic bag ban… Environmental activists really need to find real solutions before passing around petitions and passing legislation.
I agree with the Mayor re enforcement of the banning of gas blowers. Public safety is more important than these violations.
I believe this resolution was not carefully nor creatively thought through.
I’m in favor of the environmental benefits and especially the improvements in worker safety that would result from eliminating gas blowers. If this resolution allowed landscapers and homeowners to implement the measure gradually and perhaps if there were some incentives for switching, it might not be as huge a burden and possibly fewer people would violate it.
Police investigating the use of gas leaf blowers? What an absolute joke and waste of time.
Go back to work at your office, Armington, and stop being a Karen
Did they ever figure out who damaged the trees at Burnham?