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1998-11-24BEVERLY BOARD OF HEALTH-PUBLIC FORUM REGARDING TOBACCO CONTROL, NOVEMBER 24, 1998 THE FORUM WAS CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:00 P.M. AT THE BEVERLY PUBLIC LIBRARY, 32 ESSEX STREET. MEMBERS PRESENT WERE DR. FRANK S. CARBONE, JR., CHAIRMAN; NORMAN C. SPECTOR, ESQ., VICE-CHAIRMAN; PETER A. HERSEE, SECRETARY; ALSO PRESENT WAS WILLIAM T. BURKE III, DIRECTOR. CL~AIRMAN CARBONE INFORMED THE AUDIENCE OF THE PURPOSE OF THE FORUM AND THE GROUND RILES FOR TESTIMONY. INDIVIDUALS WERE ASKED TO SIGN AN ATTENDANCE SHEET AND TO INDICATE IF THEY WANTED TO SPEAK. THE AUDIENCE WAS INFORMED THAT THE BOARD ~)ULD ACCEPT WRITTEN COMMENT UNTIL THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1998. COMMENTS SHOULD BE DIKECTED TO THE OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH LOCATED ~£ 90 COLON STREET, BEVERLY, MA 01915 ~tE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS OFFERED COMMENTS: Bob Mehrmen Bethany Tomich 110 Hart St. Paul Kelly Cracker's Pub Joe Boccia 29 Chapman St. Shalohm Lachance 13 Jasper St. Charles Moutsoulas Stephy's Kitchen N. Paul Galluzzi 3 Gateway Lane Jessica Slate 60 Rantoul St. D.J. Wilson Mass. Municipal Assoc. Ed Sweda Tobacco Control Resource Ctr. Catherine Steen 28 Longview Drive Gardner Trask 7 Galloupe Ave. Ray Battistelli 3 Butterworth Rd. David Kolb, M.D. Women's Health Medical Bldg. Jeff Steam Rantoul St. Tim Murphy Goat Hill Grille, 90 Rantoul St. T[.E FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF A MAjORiTy OF THE COMMENTS MADE. -Smoking is the number one cause of preventable death. -The right to breathe smoke-free air shall have priority over the desire to smoke. -Restaurant will lose business if neighboring communities do not have similiar regulations. (i.e. level playing field) -Proposed the "stop light" signage. Red, yellow and green would indicate the level of smoking within establishment. Patron would be informed before entering. -Reference to the full page ad in which health care providers support an Environmental Tobacco Smoke Regulations. Environmental tobacco smoke is a Class A carcinogen. -85 cities & towns in Massachusetts have ETS Regulations. Half of the 43 cities have Regulation. -Looking not to ban smoking but rather to limit where it can occur. Similar to liquor, change societal norms. BEVERLY BOARD OF HEALTH-PUBLIC FORUM REGARDING TOBACCO CONTROL, (Continued) -Restaurants may gain patrons if smoking is restricted; (i.e.parents with children, people with respiratory problems). -Consider non-smoking in dining room and smoking in bar. -Allow restaurant owners to set own smoking policy to best serve their patrons. 8: 20 P .M. MEETING ADJOURNED.