News Articles

The Saratogian Published on 03/02/2007
By JIM KINNEY,

A smoke-free county to follow hospital's lead?

SARATOGA SPRINGS - The irony of having to walk through a haze of cigarette smoke to get to Saratoga County Public Health was just too much for some people. Now, in response to public complaints Saratoga County Personnel Director William Baker said he'll remind employees at the county's office building on Woodlawn Avenue and Railroad Place in Saratoga Springs not to smoke at building entranceways. "It's not against the law, like there is a law for school district s. It's our policy," Baker said. "But people should use some common sense." He said he'll also check with the county's Building and Grounds department about moving ash receptacles further away from all entrances to all county buildings. "If they are there, they shouldn't be there," he said.

Margaret LaFrance, program coordinator for the Adirondack Tobacco Free Coalition said 15 counties have tobacco free policies. Those policies are similar to what Saratoga Hospital and other area hospitals did in 2005 when they banned all smoking - indoors and out - on their campuses. Saratoga Hospital's ban went into effect in January of this year. LaFrance said the Tobacco Free Networks' annual survey shows strong support for restrictions on smoking near building entrances. More than 70 percent of respondents supported extending the state's ban on workplace smoking in the last survey taken this past summer.
"So they don't have to run that gauntlet," she said.

Washington County Administrator Kevin Hayes said his county policy is no smoking within 25 feet of a building entrance.
"We have signs up," he said. "For our employees we have designated smoking areas. It's a little harder with members of the general public. We move the ashtrays. They usually congregate to that." Warren County has no specific policy, said Warren County Administrator Joan Parsons. But there is a gazebo at the Warren County Municipal Center in Lake George that smokers use.

At Saratoga County's building on Woodlawn Avenue in Saratoga Springs there was an ash can, and a pile of butts on the ground, at the foot of the steps Thursday. There were no "No Smoking" signs visible on doors. At the county complex in Ballston Spa there were ashtrays set up right outside the county Motor Vehicle office and the office entrance shared by the District Attorney and County Treasurer.
Smokers have been known to congregate in front of the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office in nearby Milton and the county Social Services Building west of Ballston Spa on Route 67.
Reach Jim Kinney at jkinney@saratogian.com or 518-583-8729 ext.216.