Community forum to discuss smoking ban to be held in W’burg Thursday

A community forum about secondhand smoke is planned for Thursday evening at Williamsburg City Hall and could serve as a precursor for an anti-smoking ordinance in Williamsburg.

Kathy Lay, a tobacco cessation specialist with the Whitley County Health Department, told the Williamsburg City Council Monday evening that a community health forum on secondhand smoke is planned at 6 p.m. Thursday at Williamsburg City Hall.
Lay also represents the Whitley County Healthy Communities Coalition and Tri-County Clean Air Coalition.

"The two goals are to have the community express how they feel about secondhand smoke, and get their opinion," Lay said. "Then they can ask questions to a panel of experts about secondhand smoke."

The panel includes Dr. David Williams, a Williamsburg physician; Mindy Rogers, the Kentucky Cancer Program; Dr. Abdi Vaezy a pulmonologist with Baptist Regional Medical Center; Brandi Gilley, the Laurel County Health Department; and Mildred Shelton, who owns Milly’s on Main restaurant.

Mark Sizemore will serve as timekeeper. Adam Sulfridge will be moderator.

Lay also presented the council with a packet of information "to help you make an informed decision about maybe considering a smoke free ordinance in the future."

Corbin recently implemented an ordinance banning smoking in public areas.

Williamsburg Mayor Roddy Harrison said that given the smoking bans, which have been implemented in surrounding areas, it is probably inevitable that one will come up for a vote before the Williamsburg City Council.

Harrison said that until Lay brought it up Monday night no one had ever discussed such a ban before the city council, although he has personally spoken with Lay about it several times over the past year.

Harrison said that he wants to hear from the public during Thursday’s forum to see what their views are.

The matter will then probably be discussed during a future city council meeting, and go from there, he said.