Smoke Free Ordinance Headed for a Vote
The debate over a potential smoke-free Montgomery continues. A sub committee met today to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of adopting a smoke-free city.
The meeting was very short, it only lasted about 10 minutes but city councilmen voted to move this controversial ordinance forward.
“My purpose today is to get it out of committee, get it in front of the full council,” said City Councilman C.C. Calhoun.
And that’s just what Calhoun and other members of the Health Education and Recreation Committee did Monday afternoon. A smoke-free ordinance is now headed to city council for a vote.
“Our sister cities such as Huntsville, Mobile, Birmingham, they are smoke free,” he said. “There’s a lot of yacking when it first passed but we just want to get the right thing out there and we want to do what’s right.”
Ashey Lyelry with the American Lung Association says she believes adopting a smoke-free ordinance is in the city’s best interest.
“The city of Birmingham has passed a similar ordinance and it hasn’t had any negative impact,” she said. “Businesses are thriving and other nightclubs and restaurants are thriving, so we know that it’s good for business and good for health.”
As it is written, the ordinance would require smokers to be at least 20 feet away from the door of a bar or restaurant if they wanted to smoke. Councilmen are working to make cigar bars and hookah lounges exempt but Havana Dream Cigar Shop owner Dave Hawrood says he still takes issue with it.
“It infringes upon the rights of small business and it infringes on individual rights to participate in a legal, licensed activity in the city of Montgomery,” he said.
And others say they believe some language in the ordinance is concerning.
“I think the 10 to 20 foot rule is also going to be problematic for bars and shopping centers where you’re going to put smokers in harms way of possible drunk drivers,” Jason Davenport told us.
Councilmen are still making changes to the ordinance. It is not finalized and they are still seeking public input.
The next city council meeting is Tuesday January 6th.
