The Representative Town meeting voted to postpone until January 2024 a resolution, Item #1, requested by 20 Registered Voters “to restrict gas-powered leaf blowers from May 1 – September 30 in order to promote the healthy enjoyment of homes and yards by Greenwich residents.”
The RTM first took up the proposal in October, so Item #1 was a second read.
But as one member said, the Board of Health pulled the rug out from under the RTM when they voted last Thursday to repeal the town’s noise ordinance altogether.
RTM Moderator Alexis Voulgaris explained that if the RTM did not vote to postpone, they could refer to special committee, amend, or postpone indefinitely.
RTM moderator Alexis Voulgaris, via Zoom. Dec 11, 2023
“Quiet Yards Greenwich intends to place on the call in January, a stand alone ordinance, not tethered to any other ordinance, even if the town enacts a new noise ordinance, to regulate the use of gas powered leaf blowers,” Voulgaris explained.
“Regardless of what the RTM decides to do with item #1 this evening, next month there will be an ordinance to regulate gas powered leaf blowers on the call.”
In a stunning turn of events, the Board of Health convened a special meeting, and following no discussion, voted unanimously to repeal the noise ordinance, which is more restrictive than the state law under the purview of DEEP that de facto went into effect at 12:01 on Monday.
On Monday morning the Board of Health announced they had canceled their December 18, 2023 meeting and do not plan to reschedule it. Their next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 29, 2024 at 6:30pm.
On Monday afternoon First Selectman Fred Camillo issued a statement saying the Board of Health chair Joel Muhlbaum should step down.
In his statement Camillo said, “The decision last week by the Greenwich Board of Health to cede local control over our noise ordinance to Hartford is beyond disappointing. It is outrageous and it happened because of the Board of Health’s inability to address in a timely and thoughtful manner the proposal from Quiet Yards Greenwich to limit gas powered leaf blowers to the summer months.”
Selectwoman Lauren Rabin at podium, with Selectperson Janet Stone McGuigan in background. Dec 11, 2023 via Zoom
At Monday night’s RTM meeting, Democratic Selectperson Janet Stone McGuigan proposed the motion to postpone until January. (New members will be sworn in at the January meeting to reflect the Nov 7 municipal election results. Some members were not re-elected, some are retiring, and some will be new to RTM.)
The vote to postpone passed with 141 in favor, 50 against, and 1 abstention.
District 9 had been prepared to present a motion to create a special committee, but it was a lower priority motion, it was not introduced after the vote to postpone was successful.
Committee reports were not delivered since they were prepared prior to the Board of Health vote.
But there was time for comments, and some were directed at the Board of Health.
Selectwoman Lauren Rabin noted that many people had spent a large considerable time on the issue and the Health Board had taken its unprecedented action without consulting either the office of the Selectmen or the RTM.
The item had been taken up by three committees: Health & Human Services, Legislative & Rules and Land Use.
Ms Rabin urged postponement, noting, “The town’s legal department and government officials are still working to understand the full magnitude of its consequences.”
Myra Klockenbrink spoke in favor of postponing in light of the “bewildering” repeal of the noise ordinance and Camillo’s call for the Health Board chair to resign.
“We are not in a position to vote because we don’t have a noise ordinance to amend. And we need time to understand our current legal environment,” she said. “We also need to get back to the business of improving the lives of Greenwich residents, and proceed with the facts and with competent leadership.”
Lucy von Brachel at the RTM meeting. Dec 11, 2023 via Zoom.
“The rug was pulled out from under us in making this decision because we represent this entire community,” said Lucy von Brachel, who noted the Health Board was an appointed body of just seven people who had noticed their meeting with just 28 hours.
“I also personally am not entirely sure that the Board of Health really had the authority to do it this way,” she added. “In our preface to the town charter there is mention of the RTM adopting Board of Health ordinances.” 
See also:
First Selectman Camillo Calls for Board of Health Chair to Step Down Over Noise Ordinance Decision Dec 11, 2023
Greenwich Board of Health Surrenders Local Control to Hartford Dec 7, 2023
As Gas Leaf Blower Battle Rages, Health Board Considers Repeal of Noise Ordinance Dec 6, 2023
Restricting Gas Powered Leaf Blowers? Dozens Testify at RTM in Support of Amended Noise Ordinance Oct 24, 2023
Health Board Rejects Gas Leaf Blower Ordinance; Votes to Create Landscaper Registration System June 27, 2023
Pressure Mounts on Board of Health at Hearing on Expanded Gas-Powered Blower Restrictions May 23, 2023