Title
Presentation on Proposed Tobacco Free Ordinance
Abstract
Action Requested: Presentation on Proposed Tobacco Free Ordinance
* Introduction & Background: This is a presentation for consideration of the adoption a tobacco-free ordinance. Chatham County's current administrative tobacco-free policy was approved by the county manager in July, 2015 and went into effect on March 1, 2016. This policy expanded the former policy to include electronic cigarettes and other vapor products and the standard tobacco products definitions from the state. Instead of the former rule that prohibited tobacco use within 50 feet of a building, this policy is a comprehensive tobacco policy where the use of all tobacco products is prohibited on all county grounds (owned, leased, maintained or otherwise occupied), including buildings, parks, and vehicles. The Chatham County Board of Health sent a letter to the Board of County Commissioners this past April asking the Commissioners to consider adopting a tobacco ordinance in order to permanently institutionalize Chatham County's tobacco-free grounds.
* Discussion & Analysis: Chatham County's current administrative tobacco-free policy has been in effect for over three years. It has been a very well-received policy among Chatham County's Human Resources Department and among most employees and visitors. Chatham County's tobacco-free grounds were implemented first as a policy with the intention to transition the policy into an ordinance. Policies are easily modifiable and adaptable and it gave us the opportunity to resolve any problems or concerns that we encountered. Now we are ready to move forward and solidify what is working into a formal ordinance. Having a tobacco-free ordinance sets a positive example for residents, other counties, and local municipalities to encourage them to develop their own policies. A tobacco-free ordinance continues to help to protect visitors and employees from secondhand smoke, complements tobacco cessa...
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