Niles Update
Still time to voice views on a village smoking ban
Sept. 7, 2006
JENNIFER JOHNSON Niles residents and business owners who did not attend two recent public hearings to weigh in on whether Niles should follow Cook County's public smoking ban next year are invited to express their opinions at future meetings of the Niles Village Board. Niles Trustee Louella Preston told a group of about 18 individuals who attended the Aug. 31 public hearing that if a local ordinance regulating smoking does go before the Village Board for consideration, she did not anticipate the board taking action on it until at least January 2007. Trustee Andrew Przybylo said this would give individuals the opportunity to speak at three Village Board meetings prior to the vote. The Village Board will meet at 8 p.m. Sept. 26, Oct. 24 and Nov. 28 at Niles Village Hall, 1000 Civic Center Drive. There is no December meeting. Public comments are allowed at the end of each meeting, and speakers have three minutes to address the board. Przybylo also encouraged the public to submit letters indicating their views on smoking in public places. Twelve individuals spoke at the Aug. 31 meeting, majority favoring a smoking ban in Niles. "The government has an obligation to protect the health of its citizens," said resident Mike Looby, explaining that second-hand smoke can be dangerous to one's health. "If California, New York City and other large cities can survive financially with non-smoking in public places, then our little village of Niles can do the same," said resident Eunice Shparago. "I hope Niles will take the strongest possible stand against smoking," said Marilyn Kramer. Two individuals did voice opposition to a local ban. Resident Albert Schafer said decisions about smoking should be left up to business owners. He said people who do not like smoking in restaurants, for example, can simply go to another establishment that does not allow smoking. "If I don't like a place because there's too much smoke, I won't go there," Schafer said. Jeff Wiseman, a resident of neighboring Sauganash, agreed that smoking should be allowed in public places. "The government shouldn't tell private businessmen what to do," he said. Wiseman also said he did not believe second-hand smoke was as deadly and dangerous its claimed to be. "It's people's social control efforts backed by junk science," Wiseman said, his comments sparking anger from some Niles residents. Resident Arnoldo Saucedo said he believed smoking should be allowed in bars, but banned in other public places. The Cook County smoking ban ordinance, which takes effect in March 2007, prohibits smoking in all enclosed public places including restaurants, bars, bowling alleys, theaters, building lobbies, sports arenas and recreational areas, gaming facilities and a number of other establishments, including those where smoking is already prohibited under the state's Clean Air Act. The ordinance requires local law enforcement and public health departments to enforce the ordinance and sets a minimum fine of $100 for a person caught smoking in an area where smoking is prohibited. Municipalities that do not want to follow the restrictions of the county's ordinance can pass their own ordinance related to smoking, as Niles is considering doing. Przybylo said comments from the public hearings will be shared with the full village board. The board is expected to pass some type of ordinance prior to March when the county's got into effect. "I think it's going to be something most of you can live with," Przybylo said of the ordinance Niles will likely develop. Read
Weighing a smoking OK
Niles considers staying a village with smoking
The village of Niles is asking residents and business owners to weigh in on whether smoking should be banned from all public places in the community or allowed under a special ordinance.
Two public hearings are scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 24 and Thursday, Aug. 31 at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers of Niles Village Hall, 1000 Civic Center Dr.
The public is invited to provide input on whether Niles should follow a smoking ban passed by Cook County that will go into effect next year, or develop its own ordinance regulating smoking in public places.
Village Attorney Joseph Annunzio said Niles, like other suburban municipalities, will have to decide whether to follow Cook County's ban, institute a partial smoking ban or approve an ordinance allowing smoking in public places, including bars and restaurants. Municipalities that do not establish their own ordinance concerning smoking will be required to follow guidelines of the Cook County ban.
The Cook County ordinance, which takes effect in March 2007, prohibits smoking in all enclosed public places including restaurants, bars, bowling alleys, theaters, building lobbies, sports arenas and recreational areas, gaming facilities and a number of other establishments, including those where smoking is already prohibited under the state's Clean Air Act.
The ordinance requires local law enforcement and public health departments to enforce the ordinance and sets a minimum fine of $100 for a person caught smoking in an area where smoking is prohibited.
A committee formed by Mayor Nicholas Blase has been studying the smoking ban issue and discussing what might be best for Niles. The committee consists of Annunzio, Village Trustee Andrew Przybylo, administrative assistant Denise Joseph, and representatives from three Niles restaurants.
Looked at others
Przybylo said the committee looked at smoking ordinances from several Illinois communities and shared opinions of them. Although no ordinance or policy has been drafted for Niles, the committee has expressed interest in continuing to allow smoking in public places, but might require businesses to post signs informing the public of the level of smoking allowed within the establishment, Przybylo said. For example, the signs could indicate whether a building is completely smoke-free or whether smoking is restricted to certain areas.
"I don't think we want to take smoking away totally because smoking is a legal thing people do," Przybylo said.
"If a business owner wants a smoking establishment, a person should know that going in and have the free will to turn around and go somewhere else," he added.
However, the recommendation the committee may eventually make to the Niles Village Board could be influenced by the comments made at the public hearings. Przybylo said that if there is a strong public outcry for a smoking ban, it is possible the committee will look at a smoking ban.
Smoking bans in neighboring Park Ridge and Chicago went into effect this year, although Chicago's ban on smoking in bars will not take effect until 2008. Read
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