Yates Approves Smoking Ban

Source from:  Finger Lakes Times 05/17/2018

Following speaker after speaker who called for a smoking ban on Yates County property, the county Legislature on Monday passed a local law doing just that.

The law, which doesn’t go into effect until Jan. 1, 2019, prohibits the use of tobacco, nicotine or other like substances — such as vaping — on property owned or leased by the county. That includes smoking in county vehicles.

Several people spoke in favor of the ban including Phil Rouin, director of the county Veterans Service Agency. He said veterans, even those who smoke, backed the measure.

“If my windows are open, I can smell it in my office if people are smoking outside,” Rouin said.

Deb Minor, director of the county’s public health department, said people have complained about having to walk through and smell tobacco from people smoking outside the county office building.

Cathy Swarthout, the county’s public health educator, said Yates is the last county in the Finger Lakes region to pass such a ban. She noted that the Penn Yan Public Library and Penn Yan First Baptist Church, which neighbor the county office building, previously banned smoking outside those sites.

Several members of the Rochester-based Tobacco Action Coalition of the Finger Lakes spoke in favor of the ban, as did officials from several county agencies.

The only legislator to vote against the ban was Elden Morrison, who said exceptions should be made for highway workers who drive county trucks. He also questioned the effects of secondhand smoke in an outdoor setting but was quickly refuted by Legislator Dr. Tim Dennis.

Dennis said people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, commonly known as COPD, are greatly affected by secondhand smoke — indoors or outdoors. He noted that he dealt with COPD after a recent surgery.

“Two whiffs of that tobacco smoke will set off COPD,” Dennis said.

In other county business:

• BACKGROUND CHECKS — The Legislature approved a new procedure for pre-employment background investigations. Legislators Morrison, Terry Button and Charlie Chilson voted against the measure, with Morrison saying it was too intrusive.

• GARBAGE ISSUE — Mark Serrett, manager of Camp Good Days & Special Times in Branchport, asked the Legislature for help to get two Dumpsters off the site before children start arriving. The Dumpsters are owned by Feher Rubbish Removal, which recently went out of business.

Serrett said he can’t get another trash removal company to take the Dumpsters.

“That is going to be a public health hazard,” Serrett said. “In another month kids will be coming in, and it’s going to be a real problem.”

Legislature Clerk Connie Hayes said she has been dealing with the fallout from Feher going out of business and will try to help Serrett find a solution.

• NATURAL RESOURCES — The Legislature unanimously approved three grants for its Natural and Recreational Resources Fund.

The Friends of the (Keuka Lake) Outlet will get $18,000 for water quality protection improvements, the village of Penn Yan will get $18,000 for Red Jacket beach restoration, and Arc of Yates will get $8,000 for a greenspace park project.

“This is a significant step for Yates County to improve our quality of life,” Dennis said.

• PERSONNEL OFFICER — The Legislature unanimously approved the reappointment of Kerry Brennan as the county’s personnel officer. Her term will run until May 31, 2024.  Enditem