Council debates draft rule to limit tobacco and paraphernalia storefront displays; sends draft back for committee refinement

A council member who chairs health and human services presented a one-page draft ordinance intended to limit the visible display of tobacco products, electronic smoking devices and related paraphernalia in storefront display windows.

"The idea is to tamp down promotion of smoking for obvious health reasons," the council member said, describing the ordinance as allowing sales inside stores while discouraging prominent exterior window displays that could attract children.

Staff noted the draft currently relies on existing enforcement and penalty provisions in the municipal code (chapter 165) and that the ordinance is intended to create a new 165-10 subsection referencing existing penalties rather than a standalone penalty schedule.

Council members raised questions about scope and enforcement: whether the rule should mirror cannabis retail screening requirements, what to do about glass art or paraphernalia that some retailers display as merchandise, and how specific the ordinance language should be. One council member asked whether the town intended to ban advertising displays; staff said advertising language was removed because federal advertising standards already limit marketing to children.

Councilors suggested narrowing the language to refer explicitly to "display window" rather than any item that could theoretically be visible from the exterior, and recommended sending the draft back to committee for redrafting and further review before formal introduction.

No ordinance was adopted at the meeting; staff were asked to return with a refined draft and, if needed, additional committee review.