PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Portland's Public Safety, Health and Human Services committee voted down a proposal to ban smoking in Private and/or Fraternal Clubs in Portland. However the committee voted in favor of a smoking ban in public parks...
Committee Chair Ed Suslovic says the proposed ordinance is a continuation of an old policy.
In 2008 the City Council banned smoking within 20 feet of playgrounds, athletic fields, and beaches.
On August 6th, they will need decide whether to extend that ordinance to city owned and maintained parks.
Suslovic says the City Council has received hardly any opposition to the ban.
Rocco Freda from Portland says, "I'd like to be able to sit in the park, enjoy myself, and smoke a cigarette. I pick up after myself, I put out the head and then I put it in my pocket."
James Carlisle lives in North Deering and says, "I think it will be a boon to our beautiful city to have the already illegal throwing of cigarette butts on the ground reinforced by no smoking in public places."
There will be public comment at the meeting on the ordinance, August 6th.
NEWS CENTER