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Norfolk County refers proposed smoking policy for Dedham complex to counsel
Summary
After discussing proposed outside-smoking limits based on state law and Dedham public-health regulations, the commission referred the countywide smoking policy for the Dedham complex to counsel for legal review and deferred action to a later meeting.
The Norfolk County Commission on July 30 referred a proposed smoking policy for the Dedham complex to county counsel for review, after a presentation from Director John Cronin and discussion among commissioners about potential impacts on working conditions and legal risk.
"After significant research, your packet will reveal some details from state law," Director John Cronin told the commission, citing Massachusetts General Law chapter 270, section 22 and the state regulation 105 CMR 661. He said he had consulted with Dedham's public-health manager, Melissa Menard, and that Dedham's regulations call for smoking to be at least 20 feet away from public buildings.
Cronin said facilities management identified specific outdoor locations, such as picnic tables, where smokers could take breaks at least 20 feet from buildings and that the office would post and widely distribute the policy if the commission approved it. Several commissioners expressed concern that the policy could change working conditions and asked for counsel review before formal adoption. One commissioner moved to refer the item to counsel for review with the expectation it would return for action in the next one to two weeks; the motion passed.
The referral places the smoking-policy proposal in a pending status while counsel and, at the commission's direction, possibly a labor attorney review the proposal for legal risks or potential effects on employee working conditions.
