Norway clears the air

NORWAY -- Norway followed other area towns last week by adopting a Tobacco Policy that has been suggested to local municipalities by Healthy Oxford Hills.

During a discussion of the selectboard on the issue, Town Manager David Holt says that he has seen a shift in the workplace over the years.

"I've seen a change in employee attitudes over time," said Holt. "Years ago, the feeling was that smokers had rights. A grave concern for secondhand smoke seems to have won out."

The new policy prohibits smoking in town-owned or leased buildings and vehicles.

It also prohibits smoking in "all vehicles used in the course of work whenever other employees or another person is in the vehicle for work-related reasons."

A similar policy was adopted by Buckfield earlier in the month.

"This says that people can't smoke in their own vehicles," said Selectman Bill Damon.

"That's how it's written, yes," said Holt.

"We don't have the number of employees who smoke that we used to," said Holt. "When I started, I would say that a majority of employees smoked. Now, it's maybe one tenth."

Selectman Warren Sessions moved to adopt the policy, which was seconded by Russ Newcomb. The motion passed unanimously with four votes. Selectman Mike Twitchell was absent.

The policy applies to The Robert Butters Fire Station, the town office, the highway garage, all sewer plant facilities and buildings, Lake Pennesseewassee Park, the Cottage Street recreational facilities, and the Lovejoy Farm Sports Complex.