Greenwich Selectmen Endorse Leaf Blower Restrictions

GREENWICH, CT (CBSNewYork / AP) - A gasoline-powered leaf blower is almost a rite of ownership when one buys a house in Greenwich. But they are noisy, and one group of residents wants an outright ban on them throughout the summer.

On Thursday, the board of selectmen endorsed new restrictions, asking the town's lawyers to draft language to impose an August ban. The Greenwich Time reports that will then go to a Representative Town Meeting, whose final approval would be required.

The language is expected to include a one-year sunset provision that would give town officials the opportunity to take a second look at the impact of a ban.

The consensus among the three members of the Board of Selectmen was that a six-month ban would not win approval from the town meeting.

Prior to the vote, First Selectman Peter Tesei had told WCBS 880 Connecticut Bureau Chief Fran Schneidau that "the tendency is more towards leaving the existing alone, and seek greater enforcement."

Tesei said it's just common sense that people should not be using them past 6 p.m. on a weekend when he says it's bound to annoy the neighbors.

Do you think Greenwich needs to restrict the use of leaf blowers? Sound off in the comments section below!