Smoking Ban on Municipal Property Weighed

Montville's governing body is considering a law that would ban smoking on municipal property with the exception of specially designated smoking areas.

Township Administrator Victor Canning is expected to identify possible designated smoking areas, and the Township Committee could revisit the issue at its next meeting.

Mayor Tim Braden said at Tuesday's Township Committee meeting concerns with people smoking at the library entrance recently came to the library board's attention, which raised the question of why the township would allow smoking on municipal property at all.

During the discussion, Committeeman Jim Sandham said he could agree with banning smoking within 100 feet of an entrance, but prohibiting an adult who chooses to smoke on the far end of a parking lot would be infringing on their rights.

"I don't think we should prohibit that," he said.

Committeewoman Deborah Nielson said having to walk through smoke as a non-smoker is offensive, and suggested the possibility of designating smoking areas.

Deputy Mayor Don Kostka said he doesn't have a problem with the proposed ban as long as there is a place people may smoke.