Heated discussion on smoking signs

August 6, 2012

Photo by Amy Cherry - Natalie Aiello of Penn State Cooperative Education for Elk and Cameron counties presents information to St. Marys City Council on the "Young Lungs at Play" initiative to curb smoking in recreational areas.

Members of St. Marys City Council embarked on a heated debate on Monday evening regarding the placement of tobacco-free signs at area recreation parks.
The issue was discussed at a previous meeting following a resident's complaint about the signs to St. Marys Mayor Sally Geyer. Geyer said council was unaware the signs were in place. City Manager Dave Greene said the St. Marys Recreation Board has the right to enact a policy to place the signs within local parks.
On Monday, Natalie Aiello of Penn State Cooperative Education for Elk and Cameron counties presented information about the Young Lungs at Play initiative. She addressed several concerns addressed in a letter she received from council, specifically the enforceability aspect of the policy, cost to taxpayers and scientific and medical data to back up the initiative.