The Lincoln Squirrel – News, features and photos from Lincoln, Mass.

leaf blowers*

Letter to the editor: restrict use of leaf blowers

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Editor’s note: San Antonio read the following statement at the Leaf Blower Study Committee25 public forum on February 25. Click here to see links to previous coverage of this issue in the Lincoln Squirrel.

To the editor:

When I moved to Lincoln in 1991, I was positively elated to find such a special place. I grew up in Lawrence, Mass., and had lived in Boston, New York and then Los Angeles before returning to the East Coast. Feeling at that point quite starved for clean, safe space away from the pace of modern city life, my hope—no, my mission—was to find a place as uniquely beautiful as Lincoln with its inviting open fields, its intricate network of trails through the woods, and what in the beginning was relative peace and quiet.

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Letter to the editor: leaf blower committee responds

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To the editor:

I am writing on behalf of the town’s Leaf Blower Study Committee to respond to Squirrel’s recent article on 1) our proposal to restrict leaf blower use and 2) on our interactions with the Board of Health (“Board of Health: residential areas don’t need leaf blower regulations,” January 9, 2015). We object to the term “crackdown,” you used to describe our recent proposed regulation and think it is premature to entitle your article “…residential areas don’t need leaf blower regulations.” Our reasoning is explained below.

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Letter to the editor: leaf blowers can be used year-round appropriately

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To the editor:

We were not able to be in town on the evening that the Leaf Blower Study Committee held an open forum to discuss its proposed regulations on leaf blower usage, but we were able to view the proposal that was distributed online. Since the recommendation goes far beyond guidelines and education to outright restrictions on summertime use and penalties for violation, we felt compelled to speak up about the proposal.

We thank the LBSC for making us aware of the environmental impacts from the use of these devices in terms of noise, air quality, and in some cases, safety. We understand that their current use by contractors and private citizens doesn’t always take these impacts into account. There are times when overuse, use at inappropriate times, and improper use cause problems.

That being said, leaf blowers do serve useful purposes despite their drawbacks—uses that include more than just fall leaf cleanup, which appears to be the only time that the committee believes their use is legitimate:

  • They make it possible to remove leaves in late spring and early summer from difficult-to-reach places to allow proper growth of useful vegetation without damage from raking
  • They make debris removal possible without strenuous raking for those less capable or for those with large areas to work
  • They make it possible to remove pine needles from decks, roofs, and other areas that can’t be raked or easily swept (pine needles in the many forested areas of Lincoln seem to fall all summer long)
  • They make it possible to blow debris from summer lawn work off of walkways and back onto lawns to aid mulching and keep walkways safe
  • They make it possible year round to keep porches and decks clear of debris that blows in from yards and from trees

The proposal to prohibit their use absolutely in Lincoln from May until September is far more restrictive than the committee may believe. Leaf blowers provide useful time and labor-saving benefits year round.

The committee needs to find a way to help people use them appropriately, not to prohibit their use. Many of the cited problems are more acute in the fewer denser areas of town and not on the prevailing larger tracts of land. With two-acre zoning, most homeowners who are using leaf blowers safely and with regard for their impacts should be able do so without harm to others. Perhaps restrictions on use should be focused on their use in denser areas of town.

While we are not in favor of any restrictions, we could imagine some kind of permitting process that would at least require users in certain areas of town to conform to usage guidelines in order to be allowed to use them. This kind of approach would still allow usage while requiring that users understand and comply with the need to use them properly.

We believe that most citizens of Lincoln are intelligent, reasonable, environmentally conscious, and highly wary of regulations that limit individual rights. We encourage the committee to find ways to help Lincoln residents become more aware of the conditions under which leaf blowers are harmful, and to trust us all to make informed and respectful decisions about their use.

Sincerely,

Mark and Tricia Deck
11 Boyce Farm Road

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to news@lincolnsquirrrel.com. Letters must be about a Lincoln-specific topic, will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Letter to the editor: leaf blower proposal adds to overregulation

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To the editor:

We are increasingly overregulated in this town. Our zoning restrictions appear to increase every year and are time-consuming and expensive to comply with. Restrictions on water use are cumbersome and excessive. The average American uses more water than we do. Restrictions or regulation of leaf blower use in the densely built-up areas makes sense, but should not be imposed on the whole town.

Sincerely,

Eleanor Fitzgerald
Juniper Ridge Road

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to news@lincolnsquirrrel.com. Letters must be about a Lincoln-specific topic, will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Board of Health: residential areas don’t need leaf blower regulations

leafblower-compositeBy Alice Waugh

The Board of Health, which is on record as saying airborne particles and noise from gas-powered leaf blowers are a health hazard, has issued a statement distancing itself from a crackdown on use of the machines by homeowners, saying that in Lincoln, leaf blowers cause the most problems on paved surfaces, especially in the business district.

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Tuesday forum to discuss proposed leaf-blower rules

leafblower-compositeThe Leaf Blower Study Committee (LBSC) will host a public forum tonight (Tuesday, Jan. 6) to present a draft version of leaf blower regulations begin considered for adoption at Town Meeting in March. Tonight’s meeting will start at 7 p.m. in the Town Office Building.

Since it was created by Town Meeting vote in 2013, the LBSC has been studying the health effects of gas-powered leaf blowers on public and private property, potential alternatives to their use, and what other cities and towns have done to restrict their use.  The group surveyed Lincoln residents last year on their experiences and opinions about leaf blowers.

Before presenting a finalized proposal for new town regulations to a vote at Town Meeting on March 28, the LBSC is seeking public feedback on its draft, which is summarized below. The goal of the regulations is to reduce noise and air pollution (emissions and dust) and contribute to better public health and quality of life and to the health of the environment while also being simple and clear, easily enforceable, and not unduly restrictive to homeowners or the town.

Proposed regulations on use of gas-powered leaf blowers
  • From October 1 to May 14, anyone may use a leaf blower on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition, private residents may use leaf blowers on Sundays and holidays from 1-5 p.m.
  • From May 15 to September 30, any use of leaf blowers would be permitted only to address public safety issues and for severe weather cleanup, with possible occasional one-time exemptions for aesthetic cleanup by municipal/commercial users.
  • Users of leaf blowers must abide by the following restrictions at all times:
    • No blowing onto adjacent properties
    • No creating dust clouds
    • No blowing onto people or pets
    • No blowing into storm drains
    • No blowing onto streets or gutters, except municipal preparations for street cleaning
  • Enforcement is by Lincoln Police Department. Fines: $100 for the first infraction, $200 for the second infraction, $300 for subsequent infractions.

Letter to the editor: The not-so-dulcet tones of autumn

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To the editor:

It’s that time of year again, when the leaf blowers are at play.

I won’t belabor the most obvious effect—the disturbing of the municipal peace. Rather, there is another concern regarding leaf blowers—less audible but equally important—which I, as a gardener and naturalist, feel strongly about. It is how they compromise the landscape. Nature intended for leaves to blanket the ground in the winter to nourish and protect the soil. Over time, scouring the ground with what amounts to a gale force wind comes at a considerable cost to soil, and to the very lawns which this whole process is intended to benefit and showcase.

Like many Lincolnites, I take great pride in my garden, but let me suggest another way to honor this endeavor. If you mow and mulch the leaves directly on to your lawn, you will produce the same happy result—minus the noise and plus this bonus: free fertilizer. Any leftover leaves can be raked under your shrubs and trees, providing further benefits—no store-bought mulch required. Furthermore, you can sit back and watch the grateful birds scratch through those leaves for sustenance.

I urge my clients not to confuse their gardens with their living rooms. Stray leaves and twigs are not an insult to good housekeeping. I’m told I’m a bit evangelical on this issue, but healthy landscapes and tranquil autumn moments are a part of the life that has drawn us all out here, and it is in our interest to protect this precious heritage

Sincerely,

Robin Wilkerson (member of the Lincoln Leaf Blower Study Committee)
31 Old Winter St.

Letters to the editor must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to news@lincolnsquirrrel.com. Letters must be about a Lincoln-specific topic, will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Letters containing personal attacks, errors of fact or other inappropriate material will not be published.

DPW reports on environmentally friendly initiatives

greenBelow is an edited version of “Green Happenings,” a newsletter written by Chris Bibbo, superintendent of the Lincoln Department of Public Works.

Town departments such as Public Works, Parks and Recreation, and the Town Administrator’s Office to continue to work with the various town boards and committees on numerous environmentally friendly  projects, procedures and initiatives. Below are some recent developments.

Leaf Blower Study Group / “green” equipment

The town’s Leaf Blower Study Group, which has been working with the DPW and Parks and Recreation to reduce air and noise pollution caused by equipment such as leaf blowers, trimmers and mowers, now has a Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/LincolnLBSC. The page is a great way to learn more about leaf blower issues and stay up to date with developments. It also provides a dynamic and collaborative place to communicate ideas among participants and others who have linked to the page. Materials and links on the page currently include the group’s Town Meeting presentation, a humorous New Yorker piece on leaf blowers, and a list of green contractors serving Lincoln, among others.

You can subscribe to the page by “liking” it (note that in Facebook jargon, “like” does not necessarily mean that you approve; it just means that you are following the topic.) Please suggest to any of your Facebook friends who might be interested to “like” our page as well. Also, please suggest any resources you think we should know about, and feel free to comment on any of the postings.

There’s also a wealth of information about leaf blowers on the Leaf Blower Study Group’s page on the town website, including numerous research links and videos on the noise and air pollution that this equipment causes and how it can be mitigated. In addition to loud noise, this equipment can produce more than its share of air pollution, both through the inefficient burning of fuel and the particulates that become airborne.

The DPW has recently purchased a noise-reduced backpack blower and will soon be purchasing an electric mower as a trial prototype. Other innovations such as solar charging stations are also being considered. The group is also actively investigating the possibility of noise and usage policies or regulations to help mitigate the impact of this equipment. Regulations and experiences from some surrounding communities are being reviewed for possible introduction in Lincoln.

The DPW, located at 30 Lewis Street, maintains a supply of free lawn rakes for residents. Using a rake instead of a gas-powered blower provides good exercise and is less harmful to the environment.

Cemetery

The Lincoln Cemetery Commission and Town Clerk along with the DPW recently held a preliminary conceptual meeting to discuss the possible construction of a storage shed for cemetery maintenance equipment at the Lexington Road Cemetery. The group will be working on the design and siting of the new shed, which will incorporate many green features including a possible solar array and will house green equipment such as electric mowers and trimmers. Minuteman Technical High School students may participate in construction.

Leaching catch basins

The DPW has installed the remainder of the leaching catch basins on Laurel Drive and Moccasin Hill Road. These catch basins are designed with a sump that allows for the periodical cleaning of sand, dirt and other debris from the basin. The drain runoff from rain and snow enters the basins and then percolates into the surrounding soil. This percolation is a more normal, environmentally friendly process for drain runoff management. The process avoids a direct and concentrated discharge of runoff into the surrounding environment.

Transfer station/Recycling Committee

The transfer station continues to see healthy recycling rates, although I believe we could do better. Currently, over 39 percent of material that’s brought to the station is recycled. Please remember to recycle and encourage your neighbors and friends to do the same. In the past decade or so, recycling technology has advanced. Fully 100 percent of what is put into the recycling bins gets recycled. From reports I have seen, recycling vendors would like more supply. There are informational kiosks at the various recycling stations; please pick up a copy to see how the materials get recycled.

Also, please remember to be courteous to the transfer station attendants on duty. They are simply doing their job by checking for access stickers and banned materials. All the solid waste generated from Lincoln gets hauled to a tipping floor. Once on the tipping floor, banned material can be identified. Lincoln could be fined or have its solid waste permit revoked if quantities of banned materials are found in the waste stream. Examples of banned materials include:

  • Building and construction debris
  • Tires
  • Hazardous materials
  • Organic material
  • Explosives

For a full listing of banned materials or for any other transfer station related matters, please call the DPW office at 781-259-8999. For more information, visit the Recycling Committee web page.

Snow and ice control

The DPW is in the process of purchasing a brine pre-treatment system for roadway snow and ice control. The equipment will be used to apply a salt solution to the major roads in town shortly before to a storm event. The goal is to prevent ice and snow buildup and reduce the amount of both sand and salt put into the environment. For more information, see the DPW’s winter safety tips and its snow and ice removal policy.

LED streetlights

The process of converting the town’s incandescent, sodium and mercury lights to LED lights is on track and should get underway shortly. The Town Administrator’s Office and the DPW are in the process of reviewing contract terms with a lighting innovation firm for the conversion.

Converting the streetlights to LEDs will save considerably on power usage and cost. These lights will also provide a better quality light and the light output can be designed so that more light is directed to the road. This will be consistent with the desired “Dark Skies” goals. The LED streetlights will also be equipped with light deflectors that will redirect light so it won’t shine back into residences.