'Voluntary' Marblehead Gas Leaf-Blower Ban Compliance Requested

MARBLEHEAD, MA — Marblehead officials on Tuesday sent an open letter to residents urging voluntary compliance with the town meeting-approved ban on gas-powered leaf blowers from Memorial Day through Labor Day pending approval of the bylaw by the state Attorney General's Office.

A vote of town meeting approved the ban for the second time this spring — this time with an enforcement mechanism that was not included in the initial 2022 ban — but the bylaw technically does not take effect until the AG's Office signs off on the bylaw — which may not happen until later this summer.

However, a joint letter to the public signed by Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer, Police Chief Dennis King and Health Agent Andrew Petty said that fines will be imposed once it is approved and urged voluntary compliance with the spirit of the law until that happens.

"Without the mechanism to enforce and penalize, the town is asking that people comply with the will of the town meeting vote, without town enforcement," the letter said. "Our hope is that educating and informing residents and landscapers of the bylaw through this notice is a call for compliance, rather than a call to the station."

The penalties include a warning and cease operation for a first offense, followed by a $100
fine for a second offense and a $200 fine for each ensuing offense. Marblehead Police Department and Health Department personnel are charged with enforcing the bylaw and may do so and issue citations, but only if they witness the infraction.

The law only applies to gas-powered blowers — battery and electric blowers can be used.

"Be assured, that when the AG approval goes through, assuming it does, both the MPD and Health Departments will respond to calls of reported violations and follow the process and issue penalties outlined in the bylaw," the letter said. "For now, it's really your civic obligation to follow the will of town meeting.

"Truth be told, we hope that voluntary compliance is all the policing needed."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)