RYE, NY (June 7, 2025) — The Rye City Council will address significant changes to local laws and city operations at its regular meeting on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall, 1051 Boston Post Road. The agenda includes public hearings on gas-powered leaf blower regulations, restructuring the police and fire departments, and discussions on a leash law at Rye Town Park.
The council will convene at 5:30 p.m. and is expected to adjourn into an executive session at 5:31 p.m. to discuss personnel matters, Playland litigation, and potential property acquisition before the public meeting.
A key agenda item is a public hearing to repeal Chapter 133, Section 133-7, “Lawn maintenance equipment regulations,” and amend Chapter 122, Section 122-4, “Use of gas leaf blowers,” to adjust the timeframe for gas-powered leaf blower use. The proposed local law would allow gas leaf blowers from November 1 to December 15 and March 15 to April 30, Monday through Saturday, prohibiting their use on Sundays and outside these periods. The law exempts entities like municipalities, schools, and golf courses, and prohibits blowing debris onto city streets or public property. Penalties for violations include fines up to $250 for a first offense, $350 for a second, and $1,500 for a third.
City Engineer Ryan Coyne, in a May 19, 2025, memo, noted that the Department of Public Works has used electric leaf blowers for over seven years, finding them comparable to gas-powered models for standard lawn maintenance but limited by battery life during heavy spring and fall cleanups.
Another public hearing will consider amending the Rye City Charter to restructure city operations. The proposed law would revise Article 6, Section 6-2(C), “Powers and Duties,” and Article 8, Sections C8-2(B) and (C)(1), “Powers and Duties of City Manager,” while rescinding Article 12, “Department of Public Safety.” It would create new Articles 12 and 13 to establish separate Departments of Police and Fire, reestablishing the Police Commissioner position and creating a Fire Chief position, both appointed by the City Manager. The Police Commissioner and Fire Chief would oversee their respective departments, with authority to make rules, appoint officers, and manage budgets, subject to City Council approval.
The council will also discuss leash law policies at Rye Town Park and consider a resolution to authorize Corporation Counsel Kristen Wilson to retain Steven G. Leventhal for legal assistance in reviewing the City Code of Ethics for up to $10,000.
Other agenda items include approving the 2025 street resurfacing plan, presented by Coyne, which expands to include parts of the 2026 program due to competitive bid pricing. Streets targeted for resurfacing include Oakland Beach Avenue, Allendale Drive, and Milton Road. The council will also recognize Kaylie Nakamura and Ashley Hernandez with a Human Rights Commission Youth Award and consider appointments to city boards and commissions.
A resolution to declare surplus equipment, including a 1994 Pierce Pumper, 2020 Ford Explorer, and other vehicles and items from the Department of Public Works and Fire Department, will be voted on, with authorization for department heads to donate, sell, or dispose of them.
At the May 21, 2025, meeting, the council approved a naming rights agreement with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to honor Orial and M. Paul Redd and supported a New York State Resilient Watershed Grant Program application for the Locust Avenue Bridge replacement, a $10 million project with $5 million already secured.
The meeting will be broadcast live on Cablevision Channel 75, Verizon Channel 39, and streamed at www.ryeny.gov under “RyeTV Live.” The next regular meeting is scheduled for July 16, 2025, at 6:30 p.m.
This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.