To the editor:

Here is why the Town Council needs to say no to the proposal to ban your lawnmowers, leaf blowers and construction equipment.

The Barrington Resilience and Energy Committee (R&E) recently laid out a “recommendation” that reads more like a manifesto. The charge of the R&E is to advise the Town Council on short and long-term strategies to promote energy efficiency, create savings and reduce the environmental impact of town energy usage through conservation and the use of sustainable energy resources; and to provide education outreach and assistance to the citizens of Barrington in attaining these objectives.

Recently, the R& E has overstepped its charge and begun promoting a restrictive amendment to the noise ordinance. They suggest a ban on leaf blowing or hedge trimming from May 15 through September and Dec. 15 through March 15. In addition, you can only use equipment over 70 db between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. 

After doing some research, I was surprised to learn that most of the electric replacements are above the 70dB recommended maximum output. So, even if you replaced your riding/gas-powered mower with the electric version you won’t be able to cut your grass after work since you can only use equipment over 70dB between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Additionally, you can only trim your bushes for six weeks in the spring and 10 weeks in the fall. 

What about snow blowers? Safety demands that residents be able to choose the right equipment for snow removal in their driveways and sidewalks. This ordinance includes construction equipment and would restrict times when certain tools could be used for home improvement and building since there are few electric alternatives. 

The Town Council needs to say no to these “recommendations” because:

• It is impractical and wasteful that every homeowner will have to discard  their lawnmower, leaf blower, snow blower etc. into the landfill and replace them with an electric one, some still over the 70 db recommendation. 

• Economic loss to the local businesses who provide lawn care and home construction in Barrington would be devastating. Not only would they have to purchase new equipment but also you are taking away hours of their workday (they will not be able to start some work before 9 a.m.) Some electric equipment is not as powerful so lawn jobs would take longer resulting in increased cost to the residents. Machines like Table saws and tile saws have no alternative. 

• The technology is not there to justify such drastic restrictions. For example:

Electric mowers 75 db, gas 70-80db 

Riding mower electric 75 db, gas 90db

Electric hedge trimmer 80-90 db, gas 85-100db

Electric leaf blower electric 65db, gas 70-80db

Snow blower electric 65 db, gas 90db

Table saw electric 100db

Similar legislation did not pass at the statehouse and it should not be entertained here. 

The town should continue their buyback program for those willing to convert at this time. They should not be mandating the routine maintenance of our properties. Lastly, I question how they plan to enforce this act and feel this will further divide our town when it comes to policing the ordinance. 

The Town Council will be discussing this at their Nov. 6 meeting. Please attend to voice your concerns regarding these unrealistic “recommendations.”

Lisa Daft 

Barrington