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Each January, roughly one in three Americans resolve to improve their health in some way. This January, one town — the Town of Shelby in Orleans County — made good on a healthier, tobacco-free grounds resolution that will benefit the entire community for 2019 and beyond.
The new law, which was drafted by newly elected Town book keeper, Miranda Bennett, and submitted to the Town Council by Town Supervisor Ed Houseknecht, prohibits the use of tobacco products on town grounds. Town Council members: Kenneth Schaal, Stephen Seitz, William Bacon, and Jeff Smith passed the resolution unanimously.
As of January 1, 2019 there will be no smoking on the Shelby Town Hall grounds, which includes the Shelby Ridgeway Town Court.
The decision to make the grounds smoke-free was simple, according to Houseknecht. “There are cancer survivors in our community, some awaiting to appear in court and some who are Shelby Town staff, who are required to walk into the doors past smokers,” he said. “They shouldn’t have to walk through a cloud of smoke to come to work or come in and wait for court.”
For more information on how to make your municipality or business smoke free, contact Tobacco-Free GLOW at 585-219-4064