Residents urge Morris Township to consider leaf-blower limits; petition reaches 114 signatures

Charlie Schachter, a Morris Township resident, told the committee he has been gathering support for restrictions on gas-powered leaf blowers and that his petition grew "from about 50 signatures before" to "a 114 people that have agreed that the township should take some sort of action." He asked how to schedule a roughly 20-minute presentation to the committee.

Jennifer Nielsen, also a resident, said she has public-health experience and urged the township to consider an ordinance to control leaf blowers, citing Maplewood’s ban as an example. "I think my husband is gonna talk a little bit about the noise pollution that we endure from our neighbors," she said, and described commercial and frequent use as a public-health issue for workers and nearby residents.

Speakers and several committee members suggested the environmental commission could first research options and draft recommended ordinance language — ranging from a total ban to seasonal or limited-hour rules — and return its advisory findings to the Township Committee. Committee members raised enforcement and phasing as issues that would need study before any regulation is adopted.

Resident Dean Nielsen described personal impacts on his household, saying the operation of multiple blowers can be "deafening" inside his home and that operators often lack hearing protection.

Following public comment, staff told Schachter to submit a review request so the township can consider scheduling his presentation. The committee did not set a date or take formal action to draft an ordinance at the meeting.

The committee did not adopt any ordinance at the Jan. 21 meeting; members set a process recommendation (environmental commission review) and asked staff to follow up on the ordinance text and applicable noise standards.