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Pender commissioners seek compromise in smoking ban
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TOPSAIL VOICE
By Ken Clarke
BURGAW – The ability to ban smoking on government facilities has the Pender County commissioners looking for a compromise to satisfy those on each side of the issue.
On Monday, county Health Department Director Dr. Jack Griffith appeared before the board with an ordinance that would ban smoking outside at county facilities and in county vehicles. The only exception would allow smoking to take place on county property in a private vehicle.
The recommendation came from a vote of the Board of Health supporting the ordinance on Jan. 19.
In May, the NC General Assembly approved a bill that allowed local governments to adopt ordinances on smoking that were more restrictive than state law.
The commissioners first broached the issue in October but declined to adopt a resolution but instead opted to have Dr. Griffith and County Manager Rick Benton try to find a compromise.
In addressing the board, Dr. Griffith said he, Benton and county attorney Trey Thurman met and it was decided the best way to handle it was to ban smoking at county facilities and in county vehicles.
Dr. Griffith told the board health officials have been waging a war on cancer for the past 36 years and the best way to win that war is by prevention, which means stopping, at the very least, second hand smoke.
“A person with 30 minutes of exposure to second hand smoke three times a week doubles their risk for a heart attack,” said Dr. Griffith.
Commissioner Jimmy Tate said in the past few days he has been contacted by people supporting the ban and those against it.
Commissioner Norwood Blanchard said a ban makes him nervous and recounted a story on the news saying the biggest killer was eating too much.
“We can’t do everything, they have to help themselves,” he said. “I would like to find a middle ground that would discourage the smoking but not outlaw it.”
Dr. Griffith agreed, saying they cannot help everyone and it is their choice to smoke but it is not the choice of the person having to breathe second hand smoke.
“I am not big on imposing government rules,” he said. “But we have to try and create an atmosphere that respects the rights of other people.”
Commissioner George Brown said he used to smoke and that he has wrestled with the decision, but ultimately decided he had a problem with a complete ban.
“Anyone with any commonsense knows it’s bad,” he said. “But it makes me wonder what is next. Because we have some diabetics do we pull the vending machines?”
Brown said he had no problem with smoking areas but finds it hypocritical that the county would ban smoking, yet accept grant money from organizations set up by tobacco companies.
“If we are going to do this why don’t we do it all the way and not take the money?” he asked. “I don’t like to condemn folks who smoke and then take their money with the tobacco tax.”
Dr. Griffith said smoking bans such as the one done at Pender Memorial Hospital have not been a problem.
“We are not going to try and regulate it, but we are asking that while on county property they don’t smoke,” he said. “No one is going to police it, they do this at the hospital and they have had good luck with their sign.”
Tate, who also sits on the Board of Health, said he understood the pros and cons and likes the idea of educating people but still wanted a compromise. He then asked Dr. Griffith if he had any complaints about smoking outside at county facilities.
“No said,” Dr. Griffith.
Benton said the county had received no resident complaints about smoking outside at the facilities and that they had several other options for considerations but felt this was the best.
When asked to once again work with Benton and Thurman on an ordinance Dr. Griffith said he felt the Board of Health should be involved.
“I think the manager, lawyer and I have beaten this to death,” said Dr. Griffith.
During the public comment portion of the meeting Election Director Dennis Boyles said he was a smoker and when the state banned indoor smoking no one complained but this was a different story.
“Outside is open air,” he said. “You can get more fumes filling up a car than from my cigarette.”
“Our rights have been beaten to death the last few years,” he added, noting that $2.53 on each pack of cigarettes sold is for taxes
The board opted not to move forward until another ordinance was brought forth for consideration.
On Monday, county Health Department Director Dr. Jack Griffith appeared before the board with an ordinance that would ban smoking outside at county facilities and in county vehicles. The only exception would allow smoking to take place on county property in a private vehicle.
The recommendation came from a vote of the Board of Health supporting the ordinance on Jan. 19.
In May, the NC General Assembly approved a bill that allowed local governments to adopt ordinances on smoking that were more restrictive than state law.
The commissioners first broached the issue in October but declined to adopt a resolution but instead opted to have Dr. Griffith and County Manager Rick Benton try to find a compromise.
In addressing the board, Dr. Griffith said he, Benton and county attorney Trey Thurman met and it was decided the best way to handle it was to ban smoking at county facilities and in county vehicles.
Dr. Griffith told the board health officials have been waging a war on cancer for the past 36 years and the best way to win that war is by prevention, which means stopping, at the very least, second hand smoke.
“A person with 30 minutes of exposure to second hand smoke three times a week doubles their risk for a heart attack,” said Dr. Griffith.
Commissioner Jimmy Tate said in the past few days he has been contacted by people supporting the ban and those against it.
Commissioner Norwood Blanchard said a ban makes him nervous and recounted a story on the news saying the biggest killer was eating too much.
“We can’t do everything, they have to help themselves,” he said. “I would like to find a middle ground that would discourage the smoking but not outlaw it.”
Dr. Griffith agreed, saying they cannot help everyone and it is their choice to smoke but it is not the choice of the person having to breathe second hand smoke.
“I am not big on imposing government rules,” he said. “But we have to try and create an atmosphere that respects the rights of other people.”
Commissioner George Brown said he used to smoke and that he has wrestled with the decision, but ultimately decided he had a problem with a complete ban.
“Anyone with any commonsense knows it’s bad,” he said. “But it makes me wonder what is next. Because we have some diabetics do we pull the vending machines?”
Brown said he had no problem with smoking areas but finds it hypocritical that the county would ban smoking, yet accept grant money from organizations set up by tobacco companies.
“If we are going to do this why don’t we do it all the way and not take the money?” he asked. “I don’t like to condemn folks who smoke and then take their money with the tobacco tax.”
Dr. Griffith said smoking bans such as the one done at Pender Memorial Hospital have not been a problem.
“We are not going to try and regulate it, but we are asking that while on county property they don’t smoke,” he said. “No one is going to police it, they do this at the hospital and they have had good luck with their sign.”
Tate, who also sits on the Board of Health, said he understood the pros and cons and likes the idea of educating people but still wanted a compromise. He then asked Dr. Griffith if he had any complaints about smoking outside at county facilities.
“No said,” Dr. Griffith.
Benton said the county had received no resident complaints about smoking outside at the facilities and that they had several other options for considerations but felt this was the best.
When asked to once again work with Benton and Thurman on an ordinance Dr. Griffith said he felt the Board of Health should be involved.
“I think the manager, lawyer and I have beaten this to death,” said Dr. Griffith.
During the public comment portion of the meeting Election Director Dennis Boyles said he was a smoker and when the state banned indoor smoking no one complained but this was a different story.
“Outside is open air,” he said. “You can get more fumes filling up a car than from my cigarette.”
“Our rights have been beaten to death the last few years,” he added, noting that $2.53 on each pack of cigarettes sold is for taxes
The board opted not to move forward until another ordinance was brought forth for consideration.
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goober wrote on Feb 3, 2010 7:51 PM: