http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20150128/NEWS02/701289915
Published January 28, 2015 in the Rutland Herald
Springfield board members propose anti-loitering ordinance
By SUSAN SMALLHEER
Staff Writer
SPRINGFIELD — Springfield is taking a different route to address the issue of suspected drug dealers loitering in the downtown area.
The first public review of the public health nuisance ordinance came Monday night during a Springfield Select Board meeting.
The new ordinance would prohibit smoking within 250 feet of the Springfield Town Library, with the ordinance’s obvious target the people who hang out outside the Woolson Block on Main Street.
Last summer, a Springfield woman, Kim Bombria, spent weeks collecting hundreds of signatures on a petition asking the town to adopt a new anti-loitering ordinance, aimed at what she said were drug dealers hanging out at the Woolson Block.
But the Select Board said an anti-loitering ordinance was difficult to pass legal muster, and the issue was shelved.
Select Board members George McNaughton and Stephanie Thompson, the town’s ordinance subcommittee, came up with the proposed ordinance.
But questions about the ordinance immediately came up, specifically just how far 250 feet would reach.
McNaughton and Thompson said the goal was to establish a no-smoking zone from the library on Main Street, past the Woolson Block, to Park Street.
In the other direction, the goal was to stretch as far as the First Congregational Church of Springfield, they said.
“Our goal is to keep the library healthy,” Thompson said.
The new ordinance would allow other people or businesses in the designated downtown area to say they were banning smoking in front of their business as long as they registered with the town clerk’s office or Springfield police. They would need to then post a “no smoking” sign in the front door of their business.
“No person shall smoke tobacco while standing, sitting, pacing, kneeling or lying upon a public sidewalk, street, curb, crosswalk or walkway or within the entrance way to a private home, business or apartment complex,” the proposed ordinance said in part.
Loitering hasn’t been a recent problem because of the cold weather, McNaughton and Thompson agreed. Enforcement will rest with the police department.
But Select Board member David Yesman said the town already had a “bucket full of ordinances” that weren’t enforced, such as a ordinance against daytime truck deliveries in the downtown area.
The ordinance carries a potential $100 fine and the right of the person to appeal the fine to the town manager.
Town Attorney Stephen Ankuda said the town had already made some material changes to the proposed ordinance, and he said the formal notice process had to start again at the next Select Board meeting.
OK, now as I read this smokers are now to blame for the drug problem? Smoking is a legal activity, smokers pay the state and federal government a huge sum of taxes to smoke, but as a smoker, if I begin to be banned from public sidewalks, paid for by my taxes and others, I will be the first to request a decrease in my taxes, if I am unable to use the same sidewalks and streets as non-smokers.
ReplyDeleteEffective May 23, 2011, smoking was banned in ALL New York City parks, boardwalks, beaches, recreation centers, swimming pools and pedestrian plazas. As far as I can tell, parks, boardwalks beaches and plazas are all outdoors so I guess moving to NYC won’t work for you.
DeleteHow about New Orleans? No, wait, because just this past week, the New Orleans City Council unanimously voted to outlaw smoking and electronic cigarettes in indoor AND outdoor public places.
Already, 31 states and the District of Columbia have bans on smoking in restaurants, bars and private worksites. In 2000, that number was ZERO so you can see where that’s headed.
If you can’t resist the urge to light up when you’re within 250 feet of the library (in either direction), I’d say you’re not going to be around long enough to worry about paying taxes. Nope, you’re going to be DEAD.
You are correct. But please consider this, we are not talking about law biding folks here. These are drug dealers, okay. Smoking bands are like a joke in their book. So it will be okay for them to be out there if not smoking? So while they will not be breaking a minor joke law they will continue to pedal drugs within 250 feet of the library. I get the point and the attempt but come on. How do you consider this a serious attempt at dealing with this problem. "Hey, I see you smoking. That's a fine in this town mister!" Those other places ban smoking as a public health issue not attempts to curtain drug issues. They all have drug task forces to deal with that. Oh wait that could be an idea. Of course then you have to find a way to keep them locked up after any arrest.
DeleteBurlington also just banned smoking on Church St.
DeleteActually, if you have been paying attention you would know that Rutland banned smoking in a very heavy drug trafficing area in order to give police officers a tool to combat the loitering. Numbers, statistics and reports show that it is working. Do I think this will solve all our drug problems? No, but I notcied in your comment you didn't make any suggestions. This is so typical, complain but don't help. At least they've decided to do something. If it doesn't work then we try something else. Maybe you have some brilliant idea to share instead of pointing out what won't work.
DeleteOh really, did you miss the part about the Drug Task Force? So typical of Springfield eh? Why not go right to the root of the problem. It's the drugs. Not smoking, not loitering and not checking books out of the Library. Stop beating around the bush and attack the problem. Police present, camera's in that area and consent pressure from the community is a loud message. No smoking! Really. Are you going to give my Grandfather a ticket while he's smoking wait on my Grandmother to come out of the Library. I look forward to that.
DeleteI concur with board member Yesman. There are ample ordnances and alternate means to resolve this matter. Writing more unenforceable code is nothing more than a useless, feel-good action. Worse yet, it impacts decent, law abiding citizens. Really Stephanie, is this the best you can do?
ReplyDeleteI propose riding herd on this element to the point of making their lives so miserable they set up camp elsewhere. Instead of having police cruisers riding aimlessly around town, parked by the Gillman Shop, or hiding off Clinton Street, have them park directly in from of the Woolson Block. Dash cameras trained on the sidewalk to record their every move. Should an emergency arise, cruisers could be dispatched from there as effectively as anywhere else.
Most of this element are convicted felons. If loitering about, stop & frisk. Any weapons or drug possession is a ride to jail. Proven means of getting this element off the street elsewhere. We could always deputize Springfield's own, Buford Pusser. Again, it worked damn well elsewhere.
Finally some action. By whatever means necessary. Is it perfect? No, but it is a start to rid the downtown of the trash that is ruining our community.
ReplyDeleteNow put some surveillance video cameras in.
I agree with 8:50. Camera surveillance and boots on the ground is the way to handle this. Petty ordinances will have little teeth, particularly if the criminal element won't oblige the town by lighting up in the restricted area.
ReplyDeleteWell this ordinance should make the town of Springfield a complete ghost town now. The people who sit outside and smoke are the only ones left who use main street. I hope this makes the select board members happy!
ReplyDeleteIs it possible that people don't use Main Street because of the gangs of loitering, smoking, losers are the only ones that inhabit Main Street?
DeletePerhaps, just maybe, if you remove the trashy element from downtown you might see young families, professionals, and retired folks be more willing to walk up and down the street.
P.S.: People that smoke are disgusting.
Did you ever wonder why the so called "trashy" elements inhabit main st. of Springfield? Well maybe, just maybe, no one else wants to inhabit it. It's really not just Springfield, it's all towns of Vermont that are in close proximity of NH who doesn't have a sales or income tax...and...will allow big box stores. I'll bet that all you lovers of Springfield go shopping in Claremont...right????...Right!...I thought so!
DeleteNo....In fact no I don't go shopping in Claremont...I should with the EBT inflated prices Shaws asks for food...but no, every day I do my shopping and dining in Springfield...and even though I don't live in town it is still my Hometown and yes, I am a Lover of Springfield!!
DeleteAmon 2:00,
DeleteMost of the businesses on Main street in Springfield have closed up shop BECAUSE of these riff raff hanging out. Verizon and the book store were right in the heart of it.
I'm sure Jenny Wren would have a lot more business if these scumbags didn't hang out on the sidewalk in front of it.
Personally, I will not use the library at all and only go to the cafe once in awhile. I would go more often if I didn't feel threatened by walking around there.
I believe Edward Jones was one of the earliest businesses to pull out of downtown and I believe it was because of this very reason.
DeleteI'm a disgusting smoker. So now if I'm walking up Main St. smoking a legal cigarette, I get fined and frisked, while the non smoking drug dealers standing on the corner continue to poison our town with highly illegal deadly heroin and pills. Once again, Springfield at its best. Unreal.
ReplyDeleteYou can smoke your cigarette....just don't blow it in my face when I have to stand next to you at the crosswalk or be offended that I veer far around you as I approach you...I don't smoke and shouldn't have to be forced to consume your second hand smoke
DeleteThanks for contributing to the high costs of my health insurance Mr. Realist.
DeleteI smoke to avoid obesity. Obesity kills more than smoking.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Delete...and you can pace, kneel or lay on the sidewalk but not while smoking! hahahahaha love it!!
ReplyDeleteI don't have anything to say about this topic so I'll just post a recipe for Mini Apple Pie Pancake Kabobs
ReplyDeleteIngredients
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons Original Bisquick mix
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1/2 cup chopped Granny Smith apples
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla
Butter for skillet or griddle, as desired
4 or 5 (10-inch) bamboo skewers, cut in half
Whipped cream and syrup for garnish
Directions
1 In large bowl, mix Bisquick mix, milk, egg, apples, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla until just combined.
2 Heat 10-inch cast-iron skillet or griddle over medium heat. Lightly coat inside of skillet with butter.
3 Drop tablespoonfuls of batter into skillet; cook until edges are dry and bubbles begin to form on the surface. Turn and cook until golden brown. Repeat with remaining batter, adding more butter as needed to keep skillet lightly greased.
4 Place 4 to 5 pancakes on each skewer with dollops of whipped cream between each pancake. Top with syrup, and serve.
8:06, #hilarious
ReplyDelete8:06. They came out very dry...
ReplyDeletePut more Vermont made maple syrup on them.
DeleteIt would be great if Springfield had a organization that could weigh in on the issue? What are the downtown business owners saying? What are landlords with empty spaces saying? What are the people who are interested in moving a business downtown saying (if there are any)?
ReplyDeleteWhat we should fund is an organization that can represent the downtown area that can help address these issues, speak with landlords, recruit businesses and advocate to the town leaders. I have seen this work in other Vermont tows.
12:36, the town doesn't need to fund any more extraneous organization's with dubious motives and mission. This town needs to harness its already too scare resources and intensely focus them through existing departments to resolve clearly identified problems.
ReplyDeleteIf the town wants to hear what the Main Street business owners are saying, then tell the town manager to get off his duff and go interact with them. Same for the Select Board, who wasted $5,000 on the town manager search because they were too lazy to read about 40 resumes.
Find enough in the budget to hire two new cops and assign them to the Main Street beat.
2:13, I think what 12:36 is trying to say is where is SOM in all of this downtown discussion. Since you are pretty uniformed we are already contributing towards Springfield on the Move a non-profit organization whose mission is to work with property owners, businesses, citizens and town government to enhance Springfield's downtown as an attractive, desirable and economically viable destination for residents and visitors. Its members include local business owners, community leaders, local government and residents who want to help revitalize Springfield's downtown and the surrounding areas.
DeleteNice of SOM to fix up the downtown for all the smokers. Good job!
Delete3:31, some of us used to be pretty "uniformed" back during the days of our military service. Today we're observant enough not to buy the malarkey being spewed by Springfield on the Dole, because one look at the downtown area and it's obvious it's failing in its mission. It's past time to cease squandering scarce tax dollars on this gimmick.
Delete