BY STEPHEN E. LIPKEN

Village of Larchmont Mayor Sarah Bauer opened the January 26 Board of Trustees meeting with Public Hearing Amending Chapter 180, “Leaf Blowers.” All gas-powered leaf blowers are prohibited, only electric leaf blowers are permitted. 

Electric leaf blowers are permitted only during designated seasonal cleanup periods: March 15 to April 30 and October 15 to December 15.  Operating hours are Monday to Friday from 8 AM to 5:30 PM; Saturday from 10 AM to 5:30 PM; and Sundays/Holidays from 10 AM to 5 PM (property owners only).  Fines for violations are up to $250 for first offense; $500 for a second; and $1,000 for third or subsequent offenses. Both the operator and property owner can be cited for violations. 

Next, a motion was made to adopt the Battery Energy Storage System Law (BESS). Objectives include providing a regulatory scheme for designation of properties suitable for location, construction and operation of BESS; to ensure compatible land uses in the vicinity of areas affected by BESS; to mitigate impacts of BESS on public and private infrastructure, existing property development and environmental resources; and to create a proper balance between BESS development and public safety, particularly from fire and explosion.

Larchmont Village Police Lieutenant Joseph Paprota reported two arrests.  “On January 7, an investigation that began in September 2024 concluded with the arrest of a suspect who presented fraudulent identification and purchased jewelry valued at over $2,000 from a business on Palmer Avenue. Detective Joseph Aboudi was able to identify the suspect.

“On January 6, Detective Michael Genkerell completed another long-term investigation with the arrest of a suspect who used fraudulent information to make a purchase of  $2,000 from a business on Larchmont Avenue.   

“Emanuel Aguiar graduated from the Police Academy and was appointed Police Officer to the Larchmont Police Department.  On Thursday, February 26, Detective Natalie Hecht will conduct a Scam Awareness Presentation at the Larchmont Public Library at 2 PM, a senior scam alert,” Paprota concluded.

Finally, upon the resignation of Treasurer James Cazzorla, Deputy Village Treasurer Maria Broderick was appointed Acting Village Treasurer.  Also appointed were Dana Post and Kim Taylor, Co-Chairs, Parks and Trees Committee; and Nora McMillan, Alternate Member, Traffic Commission.