City Council opts to put workplace smoking issue in voters' hands

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Maryville Daily Forum - Tony Brown - Dec. 15th, 2009
http://www.maryvilledailyforum.com/news/x819334326/City-Council-opts-to-put-workplace-smoking-issue-in-voters-hands
 

The Maryville City Council has finally made a decision on a proposed ordinance that would prohibit smoking in all workplaces within the city limits. Let the people choose.

After two public meetings that included sometimes emotional statements, pro and con, by Maryville residents, health activists and business owners, discussion returned to the council Monday evening. The city’s five-member governing board discussed the issue for about 20 minutes while Mayor Chad Jackson sought to steer the debate toward consensus.

The discussion was polite but divided. Councilman and former mayor Ron Moss wanted to remove a provision from the proposed ordinance that would have banned smoking near workplace entrances. He also said the public had had its chance to speak during the public meetings.

Councilwoman Pat Cummings disagreed and backed the proposition that was eventually adopted. “Let’s put it on the ballot,” she said.

“It doesn’t matter where I come down personally on this issue,” Cummings said. “I think this is something for the community to decide. ... For this council to do it, I think is unwise.”

Moss said he felt comfortable with moving ahead without an election, and that council members were elected to lead.

“We were elected to make decisions,” he said, “and there are times when we need to step out and lead.”

Mayor Chad Jackson said he had mixed thoughts on the issue because he believed in both the city’s responsibility to promote public health and in the concept that government should intrude into people’s lives as little as possible.

“Is this a situation where people need to exercise their vote?” he asked. “That’s what it comes down to.”

In the end, Jackson decided the answer to his own question was yes and made a motion calling for the council to allow a referendum on the proposed smoking ban to proceed. It was seconded by Cummings and passed 3-2. The dissenting votes were Moss and Councilwoman Carole Counts.

The city council can’t actually order the measure to be placed on the April 6 ballot. That will have to happen through a referendum that members of Citizens for a Smoke-free Nodaway County say they will organize immediately.

According to City Clerk Sheila Smail, the organization must collect verifiable signatures from 25 percent of the county’s registered voters by Jan 21. In Nodaway County, that’s about 1,300 signatures.

Members of the health advocacy group said they were disappointed with the council vote and worried about the short time frame. But they pledged to move ahead with collecting signatures and campaigning for support.

“We’ve got to get the paperwork done and collect the signatures,” said Teri Harr, a health educator at St. Francis Hospital and Health Services. “We’re going to do what we have to do. We’re not going anywhere.”