MONTGOMERY: Smoking ban plan set

By Geoffrey Wertime, Staff Writer
   MONTGOMERY — The township may soon ban smoking on all municipal property.
   The ban was unanimously introduced at the Thursday meeting of the Township Committee, according to Township Administrator Donato Nieman. It will come up for a public hearing and possible adoption at the committee’s next meeting, on Oct. 21.
   The text of the proposed ordinance explains the motivation behind it.
   ”It has been determined that separation of smoking and non-smoking areas in public places does not eliminate the substantial health hazard to the public,” it reads.
   ”While it is not the public policy of the township to deny anyone the right to smoke, a balance must be struck between the right of smokers to smoke and the right of non-smokers to breathe clean air. The Township Committee finds that in public buildings and on public property owned or leased by the township, the right of non-smokers to breathe clean air outweighs the right of smokers to smoke and, therefore, the Township Committee desires to prohibit smoking in township buildings and on township property.”
   Mr. Nieman said the ban would only extend to municipal property, like township offices, parkland and open space, and the senior center. It would not affect sidewalks or streets, he said.
   If the committee votes to adopt later in the month, the ban will take effect Jan. 1.
   ”For employees who’d be affected, it gives them the opportunity to avail themselves of a smoking cessation program, and it also gives residents advance notice,” Mr. Nieman said.
[email protected]