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Youth To Youth Gets City To Pass E-Cigarette Ordinance

city council testimony on ECig Feb 10 2016 4DOVER — The City Council on Wednesday night voted unanimously to ban the use of electronic cigarettes where regular cigarettes are already banned on city property. This includes on school grounds and on city athletic fields.

Dover Youth to Youth, an alcohol and drug prevention group, brought the resolution to the council. Prior to the vote to approve the measure, Hannah Martuscello, Haley Demeris and Emma Foss, three Youth to Youth members, spoke on behalf of the organization during citizens’ forum.

“It will protect family aspects on public grounds and sports fields,” Demeris told Foster’s. “… And it will eliminate the negative influence that e-cigs can have on children.”

As Demeris noted to the councilors, children who see adults using electronic cigarettes are more likely to think it is okay to use the devices.

Violation of the new ban could result in a fine of $50 for a first offense and $100 for subsequent offenses.

“I very much support this,” said Councilor John O’Connor. “I think this sets a good precedent.”
O’Connor also said that not enough is known about the dangers of e-cigarettes to allow them to be smoked where regular cigarettes are banned.

The council also unanimously voted to accept Hellenic Realty Partners’ application for a temporary tax relief program under RSA 79E to develop the Robbins Lot between Washington, Chestnut and Locust streets.

Hellenic Realty plans to demolish the current building and rebuild, with the 5-year tax relief coming for development of 6,500 square feet of commercial space and between 20 and 25 apartments above.

“I think that this is an excellent opportunity for public/private partnership,” said Councilor Joseph Nicolella.

The Dover Heritage Commission and the TIF Advisory Board previously gave their endorsements of the project.

 

CREDIT: This article was written by Nik Beimler and appeared in Foster’s Daily Democrat on February 11, 2016. The original article can be found on their website here.


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