County resurrects new smoking law
By Donna Comella

Wayne County officials have set a public hearing for a new law that would ban smoking in many local businesses. The law, postponed for over a year, would prohibit smoking in restaurant dining areas, bowling centers (except in bar areas), and Bingo halls, etc.

Walworth Supervisor Frank Guelli has spearheaded the new law, but has had to jump several hurdles along the way. Last May, he couldn't even muster the votes to set the public hearing. But, there are some new faces on the Board of Supervisors since November elections, and that could mean a swing in the weighted vote - not the least of which is that of Arcadia Supervisor Joe DeSanto.

With the weighted vote based upon each town's population, DeSanto weighs in with the highest vote - 610. And he made it clear at Tuesday's meeting which way he would lean - in Guelli's favor.

Lyons Supervisor Jim Fabino began the debate, saying he is concerned with government telling people how to run their businesses. DeSanto said that he has 'strong feelings' about smoking and the effects it has on people. He and several other supervisors asserted that no one would see a decrease in business because of the new regulations.

Galen Supervisor Leo Jenkins said he thought the board's energies would be better spent working toward better laws and enforcement of domestic violence and child abuse cases.

Huron Supervisor Lois Buckalew agreed with Fabino, wondering what a law would do to the livelihood of some restaurant owners. She added that she believed government need not step in, that customers would dictate what they wanted or did not want in their restaurants.

So, although November's election had brought its share of opposition with new supervisors in Galen and Huron, combined Jenkins and Buckalew have a weighted vote of 299.

Williamson Supervisor Tom Wetherell, also elected in November, spoke in favor of the law, calling it a public health issue, just as restaurant cleanliness would be. But Fabino insisted that to patronize a restaurant that allows smoking is a matter of customer choice.

Guelli stood and got loud with Fabino - Fabino asserting that government can not stop people from smoking, and Guelli declaring, 'It's our job to protect the people of this county from second hand smoke.'

The hearing will be held in the Supervisor's Chambers of the old County Courthouse on June 20 at 10 a.m.

Click here to see the weighted vote for the County's 15 Town Supervisors.

Click here to read the ten-page law in its entirety.

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