City Rep. Gregory Lodato, R-20, who represents North Stamford, wants to limit the noise created by lawn mowers, leaf blowers and other often-used equipment to 65 decibels ???EUR??,,????<

Under Lodato?????s proposal, noise emitted from power tools used less frequently, such as power saws, grinders and sanders, could not exceed 75 decibels, which is as loud as a vacuum cleaner.

Stamford has had a noise ordinance on the books since 1985, but it exempts lawn mowers, power saws and other ???domestic power equipment.?????????+

???The problem is that in our noise ordinance we have an exception for equipment used by homeowners,?????????+ Lodato said. ???You could be spewing about 90 decibels with impunity.?????????+

A typical lawnmower registers at about 90 decibels, but Lodato?????s plan calls for measuring the sound from the property line to gauge its effect on neighbors.

Lodato modeled his proposal after a Los Angeles noise ordinance. He began researching other ordinances after he was contacted by John Kearney, a North Stamford homeowner bothered by the incessant buzzing from landscaping crews with power equipment grooming neighboring properties.

Lodato said he hopes a more stringent ordinance would at least spur voluntary compliance.

???Even if enforcement is kind of spotty, I?????m hoping having a standard will help landscapers police themselves in a way,?????????+ he said.