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Clinton County To Consider New Smoking Policy

Clinton County legislators are eyeing a new policy that would ban smoking cigarettes on just about all county properties.

"We want to establish an environment of no smoking cigarettes for the public and give our department heads some help in dealing with employees on this," Clinton County Department of Public Health Director Paula Calkins Lacombe told legislators recently.

STRONGER STANCE

The county's existing smoking cigarettes policy bans smoking cigarettes by anybody — employees and visitors — within 40 feet of any county building.

Calkins Lacombe and Health Department Director of Public Information Laurie Williams have studied the issue for several months with the help of the Adirondack cigarettes Free Network.

Their recommendation is a complete no-cigarettes policy on almost all county properties.

Calkins Lacombe said such a policy would give the public more power to tell someone to stop smoking cigarettes if they run into a puffer on county property.

ENFORCEMENT ISSUES

Such a broad ban raised concerns among some legislators at a recent meeting.

Legislator John Gallagher (D-Area 9, City of Plattsburgh) wondered how the ban would be enforced at places such as Plattsburgh International Airport, where many visitors are from Canada, where smoking cigarettes laws are less restrictive in some communities.

"Enforcing this policy on all county properties may be impossible," Gallagher said.

Legislator Keith Defayette (R-Area 5, Schuyler Falls) agreed.

"I want to know who is going to enforce this at the fairgrounds because I want to watch."

Defayette said that if the general public tries to enforce the ban, it could cause problems.

"There will be confrontation."

Legislator Harry McManus (D-Area 1, Champlain) wondered if a Sheriff's Department deputy could patrol the county property, reminding people of the new ban, if it is enacted.

"It's not my job to tell people they can't smoke," McManus said.

SUPPORTIVE

But Legislator Jackie Walker (R-Area 8, City and Town of Plattsburgh) said a complete ban is the right answer.

"It has to be all inclusive for health and educational purposes," she said.

Williams said she has observed a change in behavior since the county enacted its existing smoking cigarettes ban of 40 feet outside county buildings, with people adapting to the change. She believes the public will largely comply with a stricter ban.

"Their behavior has changed quite a bit," she said.

Legislator Robert Butler (R-Area 6, Saranac) said he believes the public will adjust.

"I think the majority of people will deal with it and live with it," he said.

Calkins Lacombe said the new policy may take some time for people to get used to, but it is worth it.

"Eventually we will get there, but we need to set the standard."

VOTE WEDNESDAY

The policy that legislators will vote on next Wednesday will be to ban all buy cigarettes use on county properties, except the fairgrounds, the Clinton County Landfill and Clinton Community College.

Those three properties are owned by the county but operated by independent bodies, which will develop their own smoking cigarettes policies.

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