Agenda - 02-19-2008-4n - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

G°'Pty He a" O cc D nn o) 3 To: Moses Carey, Chair i f C i t B d C O o oners omm ss oun y oar o range From: Alan Rimer, Chair North Carolina Carolina Public Pohlic Health ®•ealth ,®® Orange County Board of Health Re: Smoking on County Property at Health Department Locations Date: September 14, 2005 ORANGE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT Cc: John Link, County Manager Rosemary Summers, Health Director Donna Baker, Clerk to Board of Commissioners Rosemary L. Summers, MPH, DrPH Geoffrey Gledhill, County Attorney Health Director During the regular Board of Health meeting on August 25, the Board of Health Richard E. Whiffed Human discussed a new piece of legislation that pertains to smoking. As you are aware, Services Center the body of evidence that details the effects of exposure to secondhand smoke 300 West Tryon Street Post Office Box 8181 has grown significantly in the past ten years. This research has demonstrated Hillsborough, NC 27278 that exposure to secondhand smoke is a significant health threat to non-smokers, Phone: (919) 245-2411 4+3003007 Fax: (919) 644- increasing the risk for lung cancer, coronary artery disease, asthma and other www.co.orana nc.usosaM lung diseases, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Based on this research evidence, the Board of Health believes that any reduction of exposure to ° secondhand smoke will improve the health of the public and Orange County BOARD OF HEALTH employees. The Board of Commissioners passed an ordinance on August 17, 1993 that establishes smoke free environments within county buildings; Alan Rimer, PE however it does allow smoking outside of county buildings. This important Chair ordinance has offered the public and county employees protection from ssica Y. Lee, DDS, MPH, DrPH secondhand smoke indoors; however, entrances to buildings are often the Vice chair congregation point for employees and the public who smoke. loses Carey, Jr. Commissioner During the 2005 North Carolina legislative session, House Bill 239 was passed Timothy Carey, MPH, MD and signed into law. This bill amended GS 143-599, Section 1. An amendment Christina Harlan, RN to one of the smoking restriction exemptions for public places now reads: ;haron E. Van Horn, MPH, MD "(S) Local health department and the building and grounds where the local Matthew Vizithum, OD " health department is located. For the purposes of this subdivision, "grounds mean the area located within 50 linear feet of a local health department. " Jim Stefanadis, Pharm. Alice White, MPH, PhD The Board of Health is requesting that Commissioners amend the existing 1993 County Ordinance to include this new provision that restricts smoking within 50 (vacant), DVM linear feet of local health department buildings. Significant numbers of Health Sharon Freeland, BA, MTS Department employees are located in three buildings; the Richard E. Whiffed Building, Southern Human Services Center, and the Carr Building (Planning and Agricultural Building). The Health Director consulted the County Attorney who advised that revising the current County Ordinance would be the appropriate tool to effect this change. On behalf of the Board, thank you for considering this change. We would appreciate feedback from you on the process to follow from this point forward. If you have any questions or concerns, please call either myself or ° Rosemary Summers. I