City of Conway leaders struck down a plan to ban smoking in indoor public places Monday night.
The second and final reading of ordinance #2015-01-20 (B) amending the City of Conway Code of Ordinances by adding Chapter 5, Article A, Regulations and requirements relating to smoking in the city, to Title 6 of the Code happened during its regularly-scheduled council meeting.
The vote came after several members of the community – including at Coastal Carolina University research group – spoke in favor of the ban during public comment.
Some council members expressed concern over several downtown businesses already offering workers and patrons a smoke-free environment. The ordinance was previously tabled and discussed during a city council workshop. Councilman Larry White made a motion to move forward with the ordinance, but no other member made a second motion in support.
Mayor Alys Lawson, a strong supporter of the ban, said during Monday night’s city council meeting she was “disappointed” in the result.
“A couple of council members noted that the merchants and property owners and business owners will do it on their own,” she said to News13 after the meeting. “And that’s what you hope – that people will realize the importance of the health of their employees and make those decisions. They have perfect right to do that in their own business.”
While council voted against the smoking ban in indoor public places, it did pass first reading of an ordinance that would ban smoking and tobacco use in certain public places owned by the City of Conway and in city vehicles. According to Lawson, public places defined in the ordinance include city parks, buildings and vehicles.
Prior to the vote, Councilman Tom Anderson proposed eliminating smokeless tobacco from the ordinance. Another city council member also asked to amend the ordinance to ban smoking at city events.
Lawson expects the new ordinance to pass its second and final reading. Lawson says the vote will likely take place at Conway City Council’s next meeting.
