COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION
MEMBERS: Stewart-Cousins, Chair, Bronz, Abinanti, Oros, Ryan
HEALTH & ENV. MEMBERS: Kaplowitz, Chair, LaMotte, Pinto, Bronz, Ryan,
BOL: Steve Bass, Ann Giordano,
GUESTS: William Randolph (CEO), Andrew Newman (CEO), Stacey Dolgin-Kmetz (Law), Susan Gerry (Law), Liz Salvi (Law), Rosemary McLaughlin (LWV), Keith Eddings (Journal News),
Chairwoman, Andrea Stewart-Cousins called the joint meeting with Env. & Health. Kaplowitz also called his portion of the joint meeting to order at 12:09 p.m.
Chair Andrea Stewart-Cousins invited the county attorney’s office to discuss the pending legislation banning the installation or construction of new incinerators and refuse-burning facilities in apartment buildings. The legislation would also provide for the phasing out of existing facilities.
Our attorney explained that the county can only regulate municipalities where no regulations exist with regard to incinerators.
In addition, most of Westchester County municipalities have regulations. Questions regarding the state’s activities on the matter were brought up and the county attorney advised they would look into the matter further.
The next item was the clean indoor air law. Chair Kaplowitz welcomed Stacey Dolgin-Kmetz to bring us up to date. Ms. Dolgin-Kmetz said the law mirrors most of Putnam County’s law smoking legislation and comparisons were given to the committees via handout.
In addition to the Putnam county version, we discussed the Dutchess Law.
All the possibilities were listed on a chart which included the versions suggested by various legislators and the County Executive. These included:
A. Model Worksite Law Lois, Tom and George (a)
B. Letter from Co. Executive with a comprehensive proposal
C. Local Law dealing with outdoor smoking (#11)
Discussion began with item “C.” The ban on outdoor smoking in entrances of county owned facilities would require the Commissioner of Health to determine designated areas outside of county office building that would not interfere with people coming in and out of those buildings.
Questions about enforcement, casual smokers who pass by restricted areas, and where people who smoked and worked for the county would be allowed to go to smoke were raised. The consensus was to move on to discuss item “B.”
Stacey Dolgin-Kmetz explained that “B” bans smoking everywhere but allows certain places to have smoking room with ventilation to have air brought outside.
Dennis Gallagher manager of restaurant was invited to speak and stated that, in his opinion, the current law as it impacts restaurants work well. He felt that many restaurants have built up to code but, it this law were enacted, they would be forced to rebuild.
The American Lung Association also gave input saying that current ventilation systems only clear the air without taking carcinogens out. Both committees agreed to continue discussions on smoking legislation at a follow-up meeting to be held on Sept. 30th.
Motions to adjourn for Env. & Health: Pinto and Ryan
Motions to adjourn for Legislation: Abinanti, Bronz
Joint meeting was adjourned at 1:53 p.m.