Here are some of the measures approved by residents at the March 23 Annual Town Meeting. See previous stories for coverage of the votes on the leaf blower bylaw and the deCordova/Trustees of Reservations integration. Town budget Voters approved a FY 2020 budget of $41.55 million, a 10.3% increase from this year’s budget of $37.68…
leaf blowers*
Leaf blower restrictions narrowly approved at Town Meeting
A new bylaw restricting the use of gas-powered leaf blowers in Lincoln was approved at Town Meeting by a leaf-thin six-vote margin after more than a dozen residents spoke passionately for and against the proposal. The new bylaw allows residents to use gas-powered leaf blowers only during the fall and spring cleanup seasons with some…
Letter to the editor: leaf blow bylaw is the wrong approach
To the editor: Like many in town, I really hate the fall and spring “cleanup” seasons when squads of lawn care workers descend upon the lawns of Lincoln with their high-powered leaf blowers to afflict us with an awful racket and clouds of debris and dust. It seems like it takes forever for them to…
Letter to the editor: amend or defeat leaf blower measure
Here’s why we should all vote “no” on this proposed bylaw, along with a suggested amendment that would make it far less of an overreach. The proposed bylaw bans use by individual homeowners of their own gas-powered leaf blowers for seven months of the year. This may make a lot of sense to people who…
Letter to the editor: vote “no” on leaf blower question
(Editor’s note: this letter was sent by Byrnes Landscaping to their customers in Lincoln, and the Byrneses asked that it also be published as a letter to the editor.) To the editor: At the upcoming Lincoln Town Meeting, there is a proposed bylaw to limit/ban the use of gas-powered leaf blowers. We have compiled some…
Letter to the editor: vote “yes” on leaf blower bylaw
To the editor: The leaf blower bylaw being proposed at Town Meeting by the Conservation Commission represents the culmination of six years of work involving research, education, events, and public forums. Its final form incorporates input from commercial landscapers and residents gathered during public meetings. It allows the use of gas-powered equipment in the fall…
Letter to the editor: concerns about leaf blower proposal
To the editor: I offer three of my own concerns about the leaf blower bylaw proposal for your consideration. If you share my concerns, I hope you will vote against this bylaw, regardless of its form or substance, at the Town Meeting. This will cost you money. By definition, this will limit the pool of…
Residents debate pros and cons of leaf blower restrictions
Following suggestions at a February 28 public forum, the Leaf Blower Study Committee has drafted amendments to its proposed bylaw such as expanded fall and spring periods when gas-powered machines can be used. The group this week presented a revised draft to the Board of Selectmen that would add a couple of weeks in March…
Leaf blower forum on Thursday
Residents can make their feelings known about the proposed leaf blower bylaw ahead of Town Meeting at a public forum on Thursday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. in the Town Office Building. The Leaf Blower Study Committee (a subcommittee of the Conservation Commission) wants to limit the use of gas-powered leaf blowers because research has…
Letter to the editor: response to leaf-blower proposal critique
To the editor: As a member of the Leaf Blower Study Committee, I thank Mr. Deck for his thoughtful critique of our initiative (Lincoln Squirrel, February 20, 2019). In truth, I find more common ground than I might have expected, and have only two points of disagreement. (1) Mr. Deck says his own leaf blower…