October 29, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 13 Council seeks to expand smoking prohibition by Frank J. McMahon The Franklin Lakes Council is consid- ering an ordinance that would expand the borough’s current smoking prohibition to pertain to all park and recreation areas and facilities including the parking areas sur- rounding recreation fields. Currently, smoking or carrying lighted tobacco within the public areas of the tennis courts, playground, and parking lot on Old Mill Road and certain streets in the borough is prohibited, although not pro- hibited in moving motor vehicles on those roadways. Public areas are defined in the bor- ough’s ordinance as “any public park or recreation area, vacant land, public build- ing, roadway, including the street right of way or parking lot, which is open to the public and is owned, leased, or operated by the borough.” Mayor Frank Bivona advised the coun- cil at its last work session that the New Jersey Legislature had passed legislation about the prohibition of smoking in public places, but it was vetoed by Governor Chris Christie in order to permit each town to decide if smoking in public places should be prohibited. Bivona acknowledged that, if the coun- cil adopts an ordinance prohibiting smok- ing in all recreation areas in the borough, it could be problematic if the NJ Legislature overrides Christie’s veto and adopts its leg- islation into law. But he said it would be good for the council to be proactive and “put its name” on such an ordinance. The bill Governor Christie vetoed was sponsored by Valerie Vainieri (D37 - Bergen County), Angelica M. Jimenez (D- 32 - Hudson/Bergen counties), and Paul D. Moriarty (D4 - Camden Glouster counties) and passed by the NJ Legislature on June 26, 2014. It was vetoed on Sept. 11, 2014. That bill would have extended the pro- visions of the “New Jersey Smoke Free Air Act,” which generally prohibits smoking in indoor public places and workplaces, to apply to public parks and beaches through- out the state. The smoking prohibition under this leg- islation would apply to any state park or forest, county or municipal park, or state or municipal beach, but would not include any parking lot that is adjacent to but out- side the public park or beach. The prohibi- tion would not apply to a golf course, or to an area of a municipal or county park or beach, which does not exceed 20 percent of the total area of the park or beach, and which is designated by the municipality or county, by ordinance or resolution, as a smoking area. The penalties that currently apply to a person who smokes in an indoor public place or workplace, or a person having control of the place who fails to comply with an order to enforce the smoking pro- hibition, would also apply to a violation of this bill. Those penalties include a fine of not less than $250 for the first offense, $500 for the second offense, and $1,000 for each subsequent offense. Governor Christie explained his veto, stating in a written note to the General Assembly that 240 municipalities and 12 counties have already put ordinances in place to ban smoking in municipal and county parks, local elected officials have “long defined the policy course concerning smoking in public places,” and more than a dozen municipalities have also enacted laws to ban smoking in public that is in the best interest of their constituents. He said he appreciated the sponsors’ concerns regarding the health risks posed by smoking and secondhand smoke, but he was not persuaded that a one size fits all state ban on smoking is advisable at this time. He added that he did not believe the state should substitute its judgment for that Prize donations sought for school fundraiser event The Colonial Road School PTA in Franklin Lakes is seeking prize donations for its Jan. 24, 2015 fundraiser. The PTA is encouraging the business community, families, and individuals to donate goods and services to the organization’s largest fundraiser of the year. Each year, the parent-led organization provides funds to enhance the educational experience at Colonial Road School. In the past, the PTA has funded school field trips, cultural arts assemblies, and the purchase of classroom books and other educational materials. In addition to the January event, the parents host a variety of social events throughout the year. In the past, the group has held a Halloween Bash, Bingo Night, and other family activities. Proceeds from these activities benefit the children at Colonial Road School. The Colonial Road School PTA is a non-profit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and all donations are tax-deductible. For more information on donating goods and services, contact Colonial Road School PTA Treasurer Michelle Wickwire at (973) 715-1015 or mswickwire@gmail. com.