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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/19/05APRIL 19, 2005 At a Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners, held in the Commission Chambers of City Hall at 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 19, 2005, Mayor Paxton presided, and upon call of the roll by the Assistant City Clerk, the following answered to their names: Commissioners Coleman, Guess, Sirk and Mayor Paxton (4). Commissioner Smith was absent (1). PUBLIC HEARING BANNING SMOKING IN RESTAURANTS Mayor Paxton opened the public hearing for banning smoking in restaurants by explaining the procedures to be followed during the hearing. Anyone representing a group or organization would receive 6 minutes of speaking time and anyone commenting of his or her own accord would receive 3 minutes. The Commission would hear comments alternating between those for the ban and those opposed to the ban. Mayor Paxton asked Dr. Shawn Jones to begin with his presentation in favor of a ban on smoking in restaurants. Laverne Trimble, owner of Exit 3 Truck Stop, presented a Petition with 3,000 signatures opposing the ban on smoking in restaurants. Ronald Sandefer, citizen, spoke in favor of the ban, but wanted bars to be excluded. Max Edwards, owner of Kountry Kastle, spoke against the ban. He suggested this was a subject that voters should be allowed to decide. Also explained that if the ban passed, it should be his right as a restaurant owner to have the option to create a separate entrance with separate heating and air units for smokers. Denise Wooley, Coordinator with PATCH and member of Community Coalition Against Violence & Drugs, spoke in favor of the ban. She explained how Pizza Inn in Paducah became a smoke-free restaurant due to participation in the 2003 Great American Smoke Out. Pizza Inn received a good response from their customers and has had economic success. Christopher Derry, President of Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions headquartered in Bowling Green, spoke against the ban. He referred to the constitution and protecting the rights of citizens. Mark Rhoades, citizen, spoke in favor of the ban. He stated that smokers go to movies and the mall, which are all smoke-free buildings, and spend a couple of hours without smoking. If they can do that, they can eat in a restaurant and not smoke. He asked the Commission to just not say, "We won't do anything". Thomas Vasseur, citizen, spoke in favor of the ban. He stated smokers have the option to go outside and smoke; non-smokers have no option. Raachel Thompson, 14 year old student, stated she was both for and against the ban. Her mother brought her to the meeting as a civics lesson. In addition to the names listed above, the following citizens spoke in favor of the ban on smoking in restaurants: Gerald Watkins — Committee for a Smoke -Free Paducah Mike Paul — Four Rivers Behavioral Health Dean Terry — citizen Joanie Nichols — citizen James Richardson — citizen Erick Oshel — citizen Scottye Williams — American Cancer Society Volunteer Mildred Baier — citizen Bill Thistlewood — citizen Kenny Minder — citizen James Chatellier — citizen Lorraine Schramke — citizen Dorothy Matthews — citizen 539 540 APRIL 19, 2005 And, the following citizens spoke in opposition of the ban on smoking in restaurants: Tim McCann — citizen Janet Inman — citizen Upon motion the meeting adjourned. ADOPTED: April --U '2005 j Assistant City Clerk Cynthia Abraham — citizen