From Puff to Poof

The April 12 agenda for the East Hampton Town Council was a busy one, filled with many of the recurring issues of 2011.

There was an update of snow removal from school buildings, senior center renovations, Pine Brook Road, the noise ordinance, the search for an interim town manager and more.

During public comments at the beginning of the meeting, Ted Morton had something to say. Morton asked if the parks and recreation department could make Sears Park non-smoking. Morton went on to say he had been to the park a couple times last summer, spending a couple summer days swimming with his kids, and there were people next to him smoking.

When he inquired at the time and was told smoking was permitted, he told the council he “found it kind of odd.”

And that was pretty much that for Morton's comment. For the next two months, smoking at Sears Park, or any other park in town, did not come up again at a town council meeting.

However, it was being discussed at parks and recreation advisory board meetings.

First at the May 3 meeting, and again at the June 7 meeting, where the board voted 5-0 to ban smoking at Sears Park.

So, on Tuesday night, after Parks and Recreation Director Ruth Plummer finished updating the council on issues including construction of the Sears Park band shell / performing arts gazebo and new softball dugouts at the high school, council vice chairman John Tuttle indicated he had gotten correspondence from parks and rec “about making Sears Park smoke free.”

“I totally support that,” said Tuttle, who was on vacation and not at the April 12 meeting. “What do we have to do to make that happen.”

Town attorney Jean D'Aquila, who is now present at town council meetings, advised that because the policy would have town-wide applicability, an ordinance should be drafted.

The council appeared to be in favor of such a policy. However, before it moved on to the next agenda item, it was agreed, at least for now, that the no smoking policy would extend to all town owned and operated parks.

The council will schedule a public hearing on the matter.