Tobacco Issues Light up Council Agenda

Source from:  By Frank Ruggiero ruggiero@wataugademocrat.com 04/22/2008

The right to use tobacco on town property may soon go up in smoke. The Boone Town Council voted to send the issue into further consideration at its regular meeting April 24. The topic was sparked when council member Liz Aycock said several people contacted her to complain about cigarette butts on the Jones House Community Center lawn, as well as the planters on King Street near town hall. Aycock said that, as a mother, she could relate to parents' concern about their children's proximity to smokers, and that she'd like to consider banning smoking in certain town properties, specifically the Jones House lawn, playgrounds, the common area between Boone Town Hall and the Vetro building, and city vehicles, since they're used by different drivers. She said she'd like to discuss the matter so town attorney Sam Furgiuele could begin to develop some appropriate language. Mayor pro tem Lynne Mason seconded Aycock's sentiment, saying people have also contacted her for similar reasons, saying they feel restricted from accessing certain areas because of smokers. Since Watauga County, Appalachian State University and Watauga Medical Center have enacted prohibitive measures, Mason said the town should, as well. "This is a public health issue, and I think it's important the town develop its own policies," she said. "I know [quitting] can be a real hardship, but the county and medical center offer smoking cessation programs. We need to be sensitive to that and help people be successful." As such, Mason suggested that part of the program include access to smoking cessation programs. Council member Janet Pepin acknowledged that, as a smoker, it may come as a surprise to others that she would consider approving such a regulation. However, Pepin said she'd like to see measures taken in consideration for smokers, adding there should be a place out of the public venue where they may do so. "Smoking cessation programs might be available, but they don't always work," she said. Aycock agreed with Pepin, saying that not everyone wants to quit. As a former smoker, she said quitting was very hard, "almost as hard as getting elected." Aycock and Pepin suggested they work with Furgiuele throughout the next month to bring some language back to the council. Council member Rennie Brantz moved for Aycock, Pepin and Furgiuele to work on the matter, Mason seconded, and the motion carried unanimously. Also on the agenda... In other matters, the council agreed to change its election date. Traditionally, the town has held its election in October to provide for a runoff, should one be necessary, and the council voted unanimously to push the date back to November, in keeping with the schedules of other Watauga County municipalities. "This would be a good move for the town of Boone," Mayor Loretta Clawson said, noting that last election's run-off cost the town an extra $11,000. Usually, $15,000 is allocated in the budget for a runoff, she said. With a November election, there would be no provision for a runoff. Pepin said that when she ran for office two years ago, she found that a lot of constituents were confused that Boone ran its election differently than the other municipalities, and the new date should ease that confusion. She also noted, "None of us are running this year, so this change doesn't have anything to do with an upcoming election." Mason moved to adopt a resolution of intent to change the method of the town council and mayoral elections to a nonpartisan, no-runoff method, council member Stephen Phillips seconded, and the motion carried unanimously. Enditem