Board urges countywide gas leaf blower ban

The Town Board approved a resolution at its Jan. 20 meeting urging a county-wide summertime ban on gas-powered leaf blowers.

The Conservation Board requested the resolution, saying it was encouraging the town to send a letter to the county calling for such a ban.

Noting that gasoline-powered leaf blowers contribute to noise pollution and are banned in Bedford except during a debris clean up period in the fall, the resolution said 33 of 47 municipalities in Westchester County currently restrict the use of such blowers during the summer months. But, it said, enforcement of municipal restrictions has proven challenging, as “the existing patchwork of local regulations creates confusion for residents and landscaping companies operating across multiple jurisdictions.” 

The resolution stated that “effective countywide action on this issue requires clear and explicit municipal support due to New York State’s home-rule framework,” and “a coordinated countywide approach would strengthen enforcement, simplify compliance for landscapers, reduce noise and public-health impacts, and improve quality of life for Westchester residents.”

The resolution specified that such a countywide standard should explicitly preserve the authority of municipalities to enact and enforce stricter local regulations if they choose.

Appointments

The town board also made additional appointments to start the year. These included:

Mary Hernstadt appointed as a full member of the Conservation Board, for a two-year term through Jan. 20, 2028.

Gerard Virga and Kyle-Beth Hilfer were appointed members of the Board of Ethics for five-year terms, through Jan. 20, 2031. 

Shawn Carmody reappointed as a member of the Bedford Village Historic District Review Commission for a term of three years, through Jan. 20, 2029.

Meredith Black was reappointed  to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a five-year term, through Jan. 20, 2031.

Bruce Yablon was reappointed to the Bedford Town Housing Committee for a three-year term, through Feb. 1, 2029.

— JEFF MORRIS