Smoking Ban For Town Properties, Parks Tabled in Scotch Plains

Councilmembers had yet to come to a consensus at Tuesday night's Scotch Plains meeting about which public properties should be included in the smoking ban proposed by Deputy Mayor Colleen Gialanella.

Gialanella brought up the idea for a ban at previous meetings, voicing her thoughts that smoking should not be happening in public recreation areas where children are at play, and also her concern that the town's turf fields could be harmed by cigarette butts.

"There shouldn’t be smoking where our kids are playing or running up and down the fields," said Gialanella. "It's ridiculous."

An ordinance banning smoking from township parks, recreation areas and grounds was scheduled to be introduced at Tuesday's meeting, but tabled after councilmembers discussed details regarding which properties would be included.

Councilman Louis Beckerman asked how the ordinance would affect Scotch Hills Country Club, saying "it's not unusual for a golfer to spark a cigar on the golf course." 

Gialanella responded by saying that she had discussed that specific concern with the recreation commission and it was with the support of the recreation commission that Scotch Hills be included. 

Councilman Bo Vastine echoed Beckerman's concern, jokingly holding a cigar in his hand as he spoke for emphasis. 

"I absolutely agree with the deputy mayor that our children should be protected from second-hand smoke," said Vastine. "But I reached out to the deputy mayor to express my dislike of fact that we’ve included not only our municipal building, but also Scotch Hills Country Club, because of fact that now we're talking about adults. We're not talking about kids in the parks playing sports. I don’t think that we want to be in business of becoming a nanny state as it relates to our adults in town." 

Vastine said he would support the ordinance if the municipal building and Scotch Hills were scratched from it.

Gialanella noted that the minature golf course at Scotch Hills is where many families play and added that its surface is similar to that of a turf field, and therefore, should be included. 

Councilman Mickey Marcus chimed in to add to Vastine's point, saying he felt "we need to respect everyone’s right" and suggested designating certain areas around the municipal building where smoking would be permitted. 

Also, a resident asked how the ordinance would be enforced, asking if drones would be flown over the field to catch smokers and alert the police chief. 

Gialanella responded to the enforcement issue saying that certainly officers would not be taken off the streets to enforce the ordinance, but rather that having an ordinance to refer to would "give the leagues teeth." She added that the ordinance's enforcement could mirror that of the recently passed ordinance prohibiting alcoholic beverages in public parks. 

Councilmembers ultimately voted to discuss the issue further and table the introduction of the ordinance for the time being, except for Gialanella who voted no to tabling it.

Gialanella said she was frustrated that these specifics were not discussed before the meeting and that she had hoped to have something in place before the spring seasons began and now they are almost over.

What do you think: Should smoking be banned on public parks and properties? Tell us in the comments.