By Meg Grey, Hendricks County Flyer
AVON — The town council here this week adopted an ordinance that will establish non-smoking areas within the town’s municipal boundaries.
The ordinance will become effective Sept. 1 and excludes bars and private clubs. A bar is defined in the ordinance as any establishment used primarily for the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption by guests on the premises in which the sale of food is merely incidental to the sale of alcoholic beverages, including but not limited to taverns, nightclubs, and cocktail lounges.
This ordinance prohibits smoking in all facilities including buildings, parkland, grounds, and vehicles owed, leased, or operated by the town, public places, and places of employment.
“We’re going to do it and that’s how it’s going to be,” Town Council President Eva Yackey said.
Council Vice President Dave Jackson said Avon is not the first town to pass such an ordinance and he is certain it won’t be the last. He said he hopes the trend continues throughout Hendricks County.
“We support those communities in moving forward as well,” he said.
According to the ordinance, people will not be allowed to smoke within 50 feet of an enclosed area where smoking is banned to insure that tobacco smoke doesn’t enter into the establishments via entrances, windows, ventilation intakes, and other means.
Smoking will not be regulated in private residences except when used as a licensed childcare, adult day care, or health care facility.
Likewise, it is not regulated in hotel and motel rooms, retail tobacco stores, and outdoor areas of places of employment.
The ordinance states that the rules are to be enforced any citizen desiring to register a complaint, health and fire department representatives, and an owner, manager, operator, or employee of an establishment. Those smoking in a prohibited area will be punished by a fine not to exceed $50.
The council has been discussing the ordinance’s implementation since March.