PORT CARBON - Borough council banned smoking at the community's two playgrounds with a new policy.
"We did get complaints about smoking in the playground, cigarette butts in the mulch and little kids are picking them up and putting them in their mouths. And parents are complaining," Council President Harold "Bucky" Herndon said at council's September meeting Tuesday.
The incidents occurred at the borough-owned Francis E. Lubinsky Playground on Pottsville Street, Herndon said. But this policy will also apply to the Miller Playground just off Route 209, Herndon said.
The policy council adopted is the "Young Lungs At Play" program endorsed by Schuylkill Health, Pottsville, according to Herndon.
It states:
- Tobacco use in the proximity of children, youth and adults engaging in or watching recreational activities is unhealthy and detrimental to the health of others.
- Tobacco products once consumed in public spaces are often discarded onto the ground, posing a risk of ingestion to children and causing a littering problem.
- As parents, educators, community leaders and officials, we are thought of as role models, and the use of tobacco products around youth has a negative effect on their lifestyle choices.
- Any person in violation of this policy will be asked to discontinue and refrain from any tobacco use or to immediately leave the tobacco-free area.
The council approved the policy with a motion by Councilman Warren Thomas, seconded by Councilwoman A. Bernice Shirey and carried with votes by Herndon and council members Mike Quercia, John Franko and Andrew Palokas.
Councilman Ray Steranko and Mayor Tom Pavlick were absent from Tuesday's meeting.
The borough will look into acquiring "Young Lungs At Play" signs, Herndon said.
In other matters, borough solicitor William Burke reported the Port Carbon Zoning Hearing Board will hold a public meeting at 7 p.m. Sept. 25 at Port Carbon Borough Hall, 301 First St., to vote on a request for a variance by business owner John P. Modesto.
Modesto is owner of Quality Discount Heating Oil, Port Carbon.
Modesto is planning to demolish buildings at 207 and 209 Market St., which are zoned residential, and use the land in the operation of his adjacent heating oil and propane companies, according to a meeting notice on the door of borough hall.
Burke said he had no further information and Modesto could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.