A new village ordinance passed last week prohibits smoking in most indoor public places in Schaumburg, but patrons in restaurants and tobacco stores can keep on smoking — for now.
Village officials promised this week that the latest ordinance isn’t the final regulation.
“This is not the only thing we will be doing,” Mayor Al Larson said. “We will be taking some action regarding smoking in restaurants.”
The issue may come up fairly soon.
“We’re still looking at that,” Larson said. “Something will probably happen within the next 30 days or so.”
The Village Board voted June 13 to revise local smoking regulations with an ordinance prohibiting smoking in offices, hallways, auditoriums, public transportation and other indoor public areas. Certain areas of multi-unit residential buildings are also off-limits for smoking, including lobbies and laundry rooms. Mark Madej, a village trustee and chairman of the local Health and Human Services Committee, described the current smoking regulations as “a step in the right direction.”
He added, “I could see us moving forward on this. We’re trying to work in a regional way through Northwest Municipal Conference to possibly create a regional smoking ordinance.”
The idea of regional smoking regulations has been on the table for several months now, though no agreement has yet been reached among other northwest suburban communities. Neighboring Elk Grove Village has approved a public smoking ban that takes effect Jan. 1. Madej would prefer to see a regional approach to the smoking issue, but he hopes Schaumburg kicks the habit either way.
“This isn’t over,” he said. “I’m an ex-smoker and I look forward to a smoke-free Schaumburg.”
While the village takes a wait-and-see approach with other communities, businesses appear divided on the issue in Schaumburg.
A few months ago, the village conducted a survey of restaurant owners’ about the possibility of a smoking ban. Of the 47 surveys returned, 24 restaurant operators stated opposition to a ban while 23 said they would not be opposed, according to village records.
Larson said restaurant owners will be notified before the Village Board considers further smoking regulations, and that they will be invited to provide input.
A countywide ban of smoking in public places takes effect next March, but Schaumburg is legally exempt because it has had its own smoking regulations on the books for years.
0 responses so far ↓
There are no comments yet...Kick things off by filling out the form below.
Leave a Comment