Smoking law back on county agenda
By Donna Comella

With Newark Participation in Government students looking on, the Wayne County Board of Supervisors made changes to the new smoking law.

The law, that bans smoking in nearly all public places, had been tabled several times before passing last July. Tuesday's public hearing was for several changes - a 'fine-tuning' that included: adding pipes to the definition of smoking; excluding 'outdoor spectator facilities'; specifying outdoor sports arenas with assigned seating; requiring a written smoking policy from all employers; eliminating a provision for variances and waivers; and decreasing penalties.

This week's hearing was attended by Newark resident Barbara Meeks, who has questioned the constitutionality of the law. The Charlotte St. resident discussed the technical aspects of the legislation, citing examples of procedure and regulations. According to Meeks, the law is discriminatory and totally 'without merit.'

She told the county supervisors that they were 'ethically and legally bound to reverse' their decision to enact the law. She asked that they rescind it.

Newark High student Will Bean stood before the public hearing ended, to verbally applaud the 'Clean Air' law, saying that the law 'defends my right to breathe.'

The legislation was not effected by either speaker, but the vote to refine the law was a little different than the original July 2000 approval. Only six of the 15 supervisors voted to okay the resolution, and with a weighted vote based on his/her town's population, that was enough.

Voting for: Joe DeSanto (Arcadia), William Eddy (Macedon), Monica Deyo (Marion), Donna Chittenden (Sodus), Frank Guelli (Walworth) and Tom Wetherell (Williamson).

Voting against: Dave Spickerman (Butler), Leo Jenkins (Galen), Lois Buckalew (Huron), Jim Fabino (Lyons), Dave Lyon (Palmyra), Carm Pascarella (Rose), Don Colvin (Savannah), and Marvin Decker (Wolcott).

Ontario Supervisor Roy Herrmann was absent.

The law takes effect January 2002.

Click here to read amendments.

Click here to read original law.