News
Tobacco Products No Longer Permitted in Nelsonville City Parks
By: Sara Brumfield | Athens Messenger
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Use of tobacco products will no longer be permitted in city parks in Nelsonville as City Council approved the change Monday with a vote of 4-2.
Councilman Greg Smith made a motion Monday evening to substitute the ordinance with one he drafted, which would have prohibited smoking of any substance in parks, but would have allowed smokeless tobacco such as chewing tobacco. The motion died for a lack of a second.
Smith and Councilman Bill Hoag voted against the original ordinance.
The new legislation bans all forms of tobacco and tobacco derivatives at city parks including parking areas, restrooms, spectator areas, concession areas, playgrounds, athletic fields, aquatic areas, pavilions and shelters. Violation of the law could result in a $100 fine.
In prior Council discussions, Smith had proposed having designated smoking areas for park patrons. However, that was not included in the legislation that was adopted Monday evening.
The city of Athens also recently banned tobacco products in city-owned recreation areas.