WESTFIELD – Council on Aging executive director Tina Gorman addressed the City Council during public participation for the third time on Thursday in advance of the second vote for a smoking ban on all city owned, operated and leased properties. The first vote passed the City Council, 8-4 at its Dec. 1 meeting.
Tina Gorman, executive director of the Council on Aging, speaking to the City Council on a proposed smoking ban at the Senior Center. (File photo by Amy Porter)
This time, Gorman quoted the city’s own public ordinance entitled the Smoke Free Clean Air Act, which passed the Council by a 10-2 vote in 2011, banning smoking in all outdoor recreational areas.
Gorman said the ordinance cites no risk-free level of second hand smoke, and notes particular concern of exposure for non-smokers, people who are asthmatic, and the elderly. Gorman said it goes on to say that the need to breathe smoke-free air has priority over the need to smoke.
“Instead of accommodating smokers, let’s work together to help them quit if they want to, and start a smoking cessation class at the Council on Aging,” Gorman said. She said she has discussed the matter with Joseph Rouse, Westfield’s director of public health. She said they would like to offer the class first to seniors and city workers, then open it to the general public.
During the meeting, Ward 2 Councilor Ralph J. Figy said that the smoking ban covers e-cigarettes and vapes, as well as marijuana.
“We’re now ahead of the curve on marijuana because it became legal today,” said Figy, adding that he was pleased to follow up the smoking ban with the cessation class.
“I just want to thank Mrs. Gorman for her impassioned series of speeches,” said At-large Councilor Daniel Knapik.
Knapik was one of the Councilors to vote down the smoking ban at the previous meeting, calling it a “slippery slope,” and warning that the next ban would be on chocolate chip cookies, ho-hos and twinkies.
At Thursday’s meeting, Knapik called the cessation program “a great idea.”
“I’m so proud of you,” he said to Gorman, “I’m going to change my vote.”
Following no further discussion, the Council voted 13-0 in favor of the smoking ban.
