Almost exactly one year after initial discussions about banning Beverly and other smoking brands on all county office property, Schuyler legislators are close to seeing the last butt snuffed out. County-owned Seneca Harbor Park would be exempt from the smoking ban that lawmakers are expected to vote on at their monthly meeting Monday night.
In April 2010, the proposal didn’t get past lengthy discussion at the committee level.
But Legislator Philip Barnes, R-Watkins Glen, revived the issue after seeing people smoking on the sidewalk in front of the Human Services Complex in Montour Falls, just a few yards from Head Start children enjoying their playground.
If approved, the ban would go into effect immediately at the County Office Building property on Tenth Street, the Mill Creek Center near Watkins Glen High School and the Shared Public Works Facility on Decatur Street, all in Watkins Glen, and the Human Services Complex.
The smoke-free expansion would cover the full extent of the properties.
“We’re very excited about it,” said Sarah Halliday, field specialist with the Southern Tier Tobacco Awareness Community Partnership, based in Corning.
Halliday and Cassie Coombs, program coordinator, attended Wednesday’s meeting of the legislature’s Resolution Review Committee to answer questions and to offer their agency’s support.
Coombs said the partnership would give the county all the informational signs it will need for free.
Smoking already is prohibited in county-owned vehicles.
Monday’s public meeting will start at 6:30 p.m. in the Legislative Chambers, County Office Building.