Vernon bans use of all tobacco products in township parks

VERNON-Despite a protest by one Vernon resident, the township council approved an ordinance to ban smoking and the use of all tobacco products in Vernon Township parks, citing health, safety and park preservation as the reason. Councilman Austin Carew, a former smoker, cast the lone dissenting vote, after making it clear that his vote did not denote support for smokers, but rather his discomfort at the civil liberties issues raised by passing a ban. The ordinance also includes a provision for organized groups wanting to use park ball fields to deposit $500 in a damage escrow account. The full deposit would be refunded after a township official inspects the fields and finds them damage free. Tony Federici, describing himself as a libertarian, said, “I am in favor of personal freedom. We could allow Vernonites to be cooperative of their own free will, or we could establish a cement patio with benches for smokers.” Township attorney Joe Ragno remarked that more and more municipalities are banning smoking in municipal parks. He also mentioned Vernon High School juniors Nicole Oceanak and Katie Deblin and fellow members of the group REBEL, who made a plea to the council at a meeting earlier in September to keep Vernon Parks smoke free. Oceanak is the school chapter leader of REBEL, a grassroots, national antismoking organization for young people. The group had charged that smoking is unpleasant, unhealthful and messy, and seeing people smoke may be a bad influence on children and young people. “We put in a big chunk of money to install synthetic fields and cigarettes could damage them,” said Councilman Neil Desmond, referring to the new fields at Maple Grange. “We must protect our financial investment.” “You guys represent all the people including smokers. Smokers have a bad habit. My wife used to smoke and I had to buy her a mink coat to get her to stop,” said Federici. “We represent drinkers but we don’t permit drinking at the park,” said Janet Morrison. “I don’t see that we are obligated to support personal choices, or that we’re obligated to provide places for people to smoke and drink. This is not impinging on anyone’s rights. But by allowing smoking you may be impinging on the rights of nonsmokers.” Morrison also noted that she would be very uncomfortable if the council were to vote in favor of supporting an unhealthful habit. “I understand the argument that the rights of people who smoke ought to be accommodated. But this is a public park built with public money and it will be filled with kids. People can go back into their cars and smoke if they want to,” said Mayor Ira Weiner.