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Petition certified; selectmen to discuss special election

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Landscaper blows leaves with a gas-powered unit

The selectmen have called a special meeting for 7 p.m. Monday, June 4, and their agenda includes discussion about the date for a special election targeting a Town Meeting vote on a bylaw for a limited ban on gas-powered leaf blowers.

Town Clerk Stephanie Lucarelli told Boston.com May 31 that her office had certified 1,053 signatures.

The election could be set for mid-July.

Lucarelli said one person did not sign the petition when it was presented to the selectmen's office about 1:50 p.m. Thursday, May 24.

The required number signatures for a special election is 864.

In a special election, Arlington residents would vote to accept or repeal the leaf-blower bylaw amendment, which Town Meeting passed, 95-85.

Those seeking repeal would need to win a majority of the vote and would need at least 20 percent of the town's registered voters to cast ballot for the repeal.

Marie Krepelka, the selectmen's administrator, said May 24 that the cost of a special election could range from $25,000 to $30,000. She said the estimate could be on the low end because the polls for such an election are open fewer hours and police pay is less.

She estimated that Special Town Meeting called for the fall to address thr issue could cost $5,000 to $6,000.

On Monday, May 21, the Board Selectmen voted down, 1-4, a move to add a nonbinding ballot question on the issue to next spring's town election. Chairman Kevin Greeley was the lone supporter.

"We’re deeply concerned with the outcome of the meeting and the ramifications it’s going to have on people’s everyday lives as well as business owners in town," Joseph Cusce Jr., owner of Black Diamond Landscapes, based in Arlington, said May 21.


This story was first published Tuesday, May 29, and updated May 31.

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Monday May 20, 2013 |  12:14:17 a.m.

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