Smoking Bylaw Amendment to be Met With Opposition

At the May 21 Annual Town Meeting, there will be some disagreement to the proposed

One group that residents will hear from is the Easton Conservation Commission.

"We’re going to be very vocal about it that night," Commission Member Ed Woods said. "We’re going to be saying we’re not for that."

The Conservation Commission helps control the over 3,000 acres of Easton conservation land that, along with playing fields, parks, and town building grounds, would be one of the focuses of the new bylaw amendment.

According to the explanation given on the Town Meeting Draft Warrant, which changes the definition of "public place" where residents are restricted from smoking to include most outdoor property, "this change will ensure that residents seeking to use these lands and to engage in healthy activities are protected from exposure to second hand smoke."

Woods said the amendment was met with a lack of support when it was brought before the Conservation Commission at an April 9th meeting.

"I’m a non-smoker, but I feel that if you want to go out and enjoy the woods in Easton and the conservation land and the [over 3,000] acres that we have and if you want to have a cigar, what business is it of the Board of Health to tell me I can’t do that?" said Woods. "Where does it stop?"

The amendment was approved by the Board of Selectmen Monday. Lat week, the Finance Committee chose to take no position on the article.

Board of Health Chair Jennifer Nichols said it is the board's duty to promote public health.

"One of the core functions of public health is to promote and encourage healthy behaviors," she told Patch in an email message Wednesday. "We would be remiss in our duties as a Board of Health if we did not bring forward policies and plans that support health efforts, or if we did not take action to inform, educate and empower our citizens about health issues. The proposed amendment to the smoking by-law to expand the existing definition of a public place to include town properties that are used for recreation by adults and children alike, and ensure a smoke-free environment for those wishing to engage in healthy activities has been crafted with careful consideration.

"The purpose of town meeting is to discuss the proposed amendment in a public forum so that the residents of Easton can decide where they are comfortable with smoking being allowed and where they are comfortable with smoking being restricted," she continued. "No matter what the outcome at town meeting may be, the Board feels confident that we have raised an important health-related issue in Town that is worthy of attention and consideration."

The amendment is one of approximately 50 warrant articles. To view the latest draft of the Town Meeting warrant, click on the attached .pdf.