| Author |
Message |
    
Gerardryan
| | Posted on Friday, November 30, 2001 - 4:48 pm: |     |
Here is the agenda for the next Township Committee meeting, Tuesday December 4, 2001. Meetings are at 8PM in Town Hall on Valley Street, and are broadcast live on Comcast channel 35. All are welcome, but should avoid the use of the F-bomb at the microphone, please. Post questions here and I will try to get them answered.
jerry ryan
AGENDA
TOWNSHIP OF MAPLEWOOD
REGULAR SESSION
DECEMBER 4, 2001
1. SALUTE TO THE AMERICAN FLAG
2. STATEMENT
3. ROLL CALL
4. REPORTS FROM DEPARTMENTS
1. Director of Memorial Library
5. BOARD OF HEALTH
6. PRESENTATION TO THE GOVERNING BODY ö
Year end report by the Community Coalition on Race
7. BL/ED ORDINANCE ON FINAL PASSAGE
(Read by Title)(Ord. No. 2178-01)
AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 2168-01
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 123
OF THE CODE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF
MAPLEWOOD ENTITLED "FEES"
(On Site Inspection of Non-Life Hazard Uses)
(Statement by Chair that the Ordinance has been
published, copies posted on the bulletin board in
the Municipal Building and copies made available
to the general public in accordance with the law.)
HEARING
MOTION
SECOND ö Roll Call
8. GR/ED ORDINANCE ON FINAL PASSAGE
(Read by Title)(Ord. No. 2179-01)
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 6
OF THE CODE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF
MAPLEWOOD ENTITLED "ADMINISTRATION
OF GOVERNMENT"
(Statement by Chair that the Ordinance has been
published, copies posted on the bulletin board in
the Municipal Building and copies made available
to the general public in accordance with the law)
HEARING
MOTION
SECOND ö Roll Call
9. CK/BL ORDINANCE ON FINAL PASSAGE
(Read by Title)(Ord. No. 2180-01)
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 123
OF THE CODE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF
MAPLEWOOOD ENTITLED "FEES"
(Statement by Chair that the Ordinance has been
published, copies posted on the bulletin board in
the Municipal Building and copies made available
to the general public in accordance with the law)
HEARING
MOTION
SECOND ö Roll Call
10. BL/ED ORDINANCE ON FINAL PASSAGE
(Read by Title)(Ord. No. 2181-01)
AN ORDINANCE TO SET PERMIT
PARKING FEES AND JITNEY FEES
(Statement by Chair that the Ordinance has been
published, copies posted on the bulletin board in
the Municipal Building and copies made available
to the general public in accordance with the law)
HEARING
MOTION
SECOND ö Roll Call
11. PUBLIC COMMENT
12. ADIMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
A. Township Administrator ö Michele Meade
B. Township Attorney ö Roger J. Desiderio, Esq.
C. Chief Financial Officer ö Colleen Honan
D. Township Engineer ö Douglas Ball
E. Township Clerk ö Elizabeth J. Fritzen
13. REPORTS FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS
14. GR/ED RESOLUTION (Read by Title)(Res. No. 161-01)
CHANGE ORDER
15. DISCUSSION ITEMS
1. Leaf Blowers Ordinance
16. CONSENT AGENDA
17. PUBLIC COMMENTS
18. ADJOURNMENT ö To meet again December 18, 2001
CONSENT AGENDA
DECEMBER 4, 2001
1. RESOLUTION 157-01
CANCELING 2001 TAXES WITH REGARD
TO 23 PIERSON ROAD SOUTH
2. RESOLUTION 158-01
APPROVING AGREEMENT REGARDING
THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM
3. RESOLUTION 159-01
AWARD OF TOWING CONTRACTS FOR
THE YEAR 2002
4. RESOLUTION 160-01
AUTHORIZING POSTPONMENT OF
MORTGAGE FOR PREMISES AT
164 OAKLAND ROAD, MAPLEWOOD
NEW JERSEY
5. Approval of Raffle License Number 1247 for the
Kiwanis Club to conduct a 50/50 raffle to be held at the
Maplewood Country Club on December 20, 2001.
Approved by the Maplewood Police Department.
6. Approval of Raffle License Number 1250 for the
Knights of Columbus #4066 Regina Pacis Council to
conduct a 50/50 raffle to be held at 765 Prospect Street
on January 4, 2002. Approved by the Maplewood
Police Department.
7. Bills and Claims. |
Dytunck
| | Posted on Friday, November 30, 2001 - 6:01 pm: | |
Jerry,
Could you please advise what the leaf ordinance issue is about. Banning them? Restricting hours of operation? Limiting number that can be used at the same time? (by lawn services for example)
What is the problem with leaf blowers that requires a new ordinance?
Also, could someone please please please test the sound system? The TC meetings are unwatchable on channel 35.
Thanks. |
Gerardryan
| | Posted on Friday, November 30, 2001 - 6:53 pm: | |
A citizens group has formed around the issue of excessive and annoying leaf blower noise, and has been talking amongst themselves and with elected folks from Maplewood (and S.O. too, I think). They are formulating a proposal to bring to the TC that would request a change to the existing ordinance. Perhaps the proposal will be to limit hours of operation, or to limit operation to certain weeks of the year, or both. I don't know what the proposal will be yet... and there will need to be a good bit of discussion before it gets to the point drafting and introducing and passing an ordinance. |
Darrensager
| | Posted on Monday, December 3, 2001 - 10:22 pm: | |
Jerry,
Can you please tell me how many people are there in the citizens group that brought the idea of a having a leaf blower ordinance in the first place? Were they specific to one area of town? Please let me know, thank you.
Best regards,
Darren Sager |
Gerardryan
| | Posted on Monday, December 3, 2001 - 10:44 pm: | |
There's about a half-dozen folks, from Maplewood and South Orange. Not specific to any one area, or any one town. :-)
jerry |
Lizzyr
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 4, 2001 - 9:19 am: | |
Jerry,
Another vote that the sound system has some real issues. I have tried to watch the past few meetings and can't understand anything the 5 of you are saying. |
Jem
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 4, 2001 - 9:31 am: | |
It isn't only on TV that it's hard to hear the procedings. I'm not sure if it's simply the acoustics of the room or the failings of the P.A. system, but even if you're there, it's really hard to catch what people are saying. Has anyone looked into the source of the audibility problem at Town Hall? |
Jgberkeley
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 4, 2001 - 10:25 am: | |
Does one have to attend a TC meeting to be heard, or ??
Can a posting here be read by the TC?
Can a letter be sent?
This Saturday my wife and I were enjoying the sun in the back yard at 10AM, when the blowers arrived. First the school, then behind us, next door was next and then behind us one over.
From 10 to 1 PM the things went on and one and on, sometimes 5 or 6 going at the same time.
This needs to be addressed and I would like my story heard. |
Bobk
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 4, 2001 - 12:33 pm: | |
JUst out of curiosity, and I don't think I have an axe to grind, how do those of you who want to eliminate or restrict leave blowers clean up the inevitable fall leaves?
For years I cleaned up our quarter acre property (with seven hardwood trees) with an old fashion leave rake. For about a month in the fall raking
was the only thing I did on weekends. |
Jgberkeley
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 4, 2001 - 1:34 pm: | |
BobK,
Me I have an electric blower, and I have a rake that I use from time to time.
My issue, which just came up this Saturday as I tried to discuss our Christmas shopping list with my wife on our porch.
Prior to 10 AM I heard someone in the neighborhood using a home style blower, and that was not a problem.
I have to say, when the gas powered equipped lawn services started to arrive, with 3 to 4 guys each running one of the blowers, things got out of hand. Then the 2nd and third crew arrived and I came to understand that this is a problem.
I wish I had a phone number to call into so that the sounds could have been recorded for the TC to hear. It would speak for itself. |
Bobk
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 4, 2001 - 2:22 pm: | |
We had them all over our neighborhood also on Saturday as they try to beat the leave collection schedule. The problem is that one subset doesn't want the noise on weekends and another subset doesn't want the noise during the week because they work at home or have small kids napping.
Basically, significant restrictions on the lawn services is going to increase prices, which is going to cause more people to do their lawns themselves, which means weekends and more noise at that time.
You should see my new two horsepower, supercharged backpack model with glass packed mufflers and a 250mph wind velocity equivalent.... |
Jgberkeley
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 4, 2001 - 4:03 pm: | |
Great!! I think I heard it this weekend!!
You are using AV gas to get the octane boost or Nitro? |
Bobk
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 4, 2001 - 5:42 pm: | |
Nitro because it is so versatile.
HEEEEEaahhh HHeeaaaahh |
Jamie
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 5, 2001 - 9:59 am: | |
Who has the right of way? Me driving down the street or someone trying to blow leaves into a pile? Yesterday I encountered this situation, I assumed that I had the right of way, but as I approached the leaf blowing guy and started to disrupt his pile - he put his hands up signaling that I was in the wrong. He assumed that I would stop in the middle of the street and await til he had all of his leaves blown to one side. I really couldn't believe it. |
Thoughtful
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 5, 2001 - 10:11 am: | |
Try riding past those guys when you're riding your bike. Talk about fun. |
Darrensager
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 5, 2001 - 8:34 pm: | |
Having and using a leaf blower doesn't make a person uncourteous. They were brought up that way.
I have a leaf blower. I don't use it at 8 a.m. on Sunday mornings (like someone did this past weekend, you know who you are!!), however, I have at 10 a.m. on a Saturday morning, which is about the time I've seen most of my neighbors outside their homes. I would never try to wake one of my neighbors to the sound of me blowing leaves.
If a person is walking past my house and I see them coming (while I'm blowing my leaves into the street for pick up), I make sure I blow off the sidewalk, so they can walk past with no effort. I even lower the throttle to it's minimum setting, until they are a decent distance away from me. If a car is coming, I get out of the way (I'd rather not get hit). I live on Dunnell Road, which gets a good amount of traffic. I deal with it. I try to make my piles of leaves so that cars will not blow them all over the road. I try to make them non intrusive to where the cars are.
I try to be as courteous to my neighbors as possible, in most cases, I clear off their front yards when I do my house. My next door neighbors are elderly, and they appreciate the fact, being in their late 70's, that they don't have to do it.
From what I understand, leaf blowers are the only power tools that have decibel (db) levels on them. Older models operated at more than 100 db's. Most modern models operate below 70 db's, which is considered reasonable. Power weed whackers don't have this noise rating. Yet their two stroke engines put out much louder noise. Lawnmowers consistantly make more noise. Should we ban lawnmowers and weed whackers during the winter? Should we also ban the use of snow blowers during spring, summer, or fall? What if it snowed in the fall, and we weren't allowed to use our snowblowers?
I think the idea of having any limitations on any power tools is beyond my comprehension. I am surprised that this event could come about during the time of the year when leaf blowers are utilized most. There is already a noise ordinance in effect. It should be inforced. I'm sorry Jberkeley if you don't like it. It is fall you know. I guess I'd wouldn't like it if the team showed up, all with back pack's a blazing! However, it is mostly limited to this time of year. How often are you annoyed by a leaf blower in the summer. They are used quite often. I use mine to clear off the driveway, instead of using the hose. This saves water as well.
My belief is that you're just noticing them due to the fact that people are using them to clean yards. If I did not have a leaf blower, it would take me 6 hours to do what I can in 1 hour. Time is valuable to me, as it is to all of you. If leaf blowers are banned, even during other times of the year, the cost of maintaining a property will go up dramatically. I confirmed this by talking to the owner of the company that services the house across the street from mine. He stated, that the cost of maintaining a property would go up "significantly."
If a lawn service company is not being courteous to you when you go by, or if someone is blowing leaves during an unacceptable hour, then that is a problem of the people that are operating the equipment, not of the leaf blower. I would hope the town will not consider any movement toward banning leaf blowers for any reason.
Darren Sager |
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