Will smokers lose in private clubs?

By Erin O'Connor

Staff Writer

WEST SPRINGFIELD The West Springfield Board of Health will be hosting a public meeting on Jan. 24 at 5:30 p.m. in the Mayor's Meeting Room to discuss regulations for prohibiting smoking in membership and non-profit associations in West Springfield.

"The law was designed to allow municipalities to make the decision," Representative James T. Welch said to Reminder Publications. "It is up to members of the Health Board."

"We are hoping a decision will be made,"Jeanne Galloway, Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) and the Director of the West Springfield Public Health Department said.

Bob Simpson, the owner of Powers Restaurant and Cafe, said he is not bothered by the ban for smoking in his public restaurant. Simpson, however, feels as a member of various private clubs in the area that they should have their individual discretion as to allow smoking or not.

"The place is much cleaner," Powers said of his restaurant. "It is great for the public places. It keeps our places much cleaner-no smoke on walls and ceilings. On behalf of the ban for private clubs that is entirely up to each club to make its own choice."

This issue has been on the plate of the local Board of Health since the state banned smoking in all public indoor places, including bars and restaurants, in July 2004 but did not put a ban on private clubs.

An Athol case in 2005, in which private club owners took health officials to court for banning smoking in their clubs, drew attention from local health officials. An Athol judge ruled against the local health departments ban on smoking in private clubs.

Revived efforts for the West Springfield ban came after March 2006 when the State Supreme Court overturned the ruling by the Athol judge and said local health officials could ban smoking in all private clubs.

Last October local health officials and representatives from local private clubs discussed ideas on a smoking ban for private clubs in West Springfield. No decisions were made at that time. "Since August it has pretty much been determined by HVAC [Heating Ventilating and Air Conditioning] systems that cleaning the air will not protect people from second hand smoke like not allowing smoking," Galloway said.

"They [private club owners] have been telling us that it [the ban] will effect their financial stability and minimize their community service work," Galloway said.

Bans for private clubs have been enacted within the last couple years by Agawam, Chicopee, Holyoke, Palmer and South Hadley. Members of the Health Board have cited the higher amount of private clubs (eight in West Springfield) as part of the hesitation with ban passage.

The three members of the Board of Health for the city must come to a vote to decide if the ban will or will not take effect.

If the ban were to pass Galloway speculated that it could possibly go into effect 30 days from its passage. "I don't know if they have considered a time frame," Galloway said. "You could anticipate 30 days or it could be longer."

John Carty, a member of the American Legion, and attendee at the October meeting said, "I was there and it looks very positive. They said they will work with us to designate certain sections and areas where smoking is allowed. I don't know if it will hurt the club either way," he added. "It might hurt for a while but people will adapt."

Carty referred to telling a veteran that they could not smoke in the club as one of the more difficult parts of the ban.

Advocates for smoking bans are currently working towards smoking bans in condominium and apartment complexes.