N. Barrington leaf debate 'long enough'

The leaf burning debate in North Barrington could be coming to an end.

On Wednesday, village trustees said they hope to make a decision on whether to enact a new, stricter leaf burning ordinance by the end of the year.

"This issue has dragged on long enough," said Trustee Rick Contorno. "We need to do something about this one way or another."

For the second straight month, trustees were scheduled to discuss a proposed ordinance, developed by the village's environmental and health commission, that would shorten the amount of time residents have to burn leaves on their property.

The proposed ordinance would allow leaf burning between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays between April 1 and May 31 and again between Oct. 1 and Nov. 30.

Currently, leaves and other landscape waste may be burned on Thursdays and Sundays, May through August. The rest of the year, burning is permitted every day.

Trustees decided to hold off on discussing the proposed ordinance until more could be learned about the possible alternatives.

One such alternative is the possibility of working with Cuba Township on bringing a special type of leaf collection truck to the area.

"I don't think at this time we can ban burning because we don't have another option for (the residents)," said Trustee Lawrence Weiner.

But some trustees said they were in favor of strengthening the proposed ordinance even more.

"I am in favor of banning all burning because of the health issues," said Trustee Edmund Boland.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, leaf burning generates carcinogens, which, when breathed in, can increase the chances of respiratory infection, reduce the volume of air inhaled and impair the lungs' ability to use that air.

The leaf burning issue has been debated in the village for the past several years.

In 2006, the village conducted a survey of the village's 1,130 households asking whether the current rules should be altered to prohibit leaf burning throughout town.

The results showed a virtual 50-50 split among the 550 or so surveys that were returned. At the time, Village President Bruce Sauer said the response was not overwhelming enough to change the ordinance.

Sauer said the goal would be to hear from Cuba Township officials in November about what their plans are for the leaf collection truck and how it could be used in the village.

By December, Sauer said he hopes the board can come to a resolution on the issue.

"We have had this for long enough," Sauer said.

Village trustees are next scheduled to meet on Nov. 19.