Ever wish that you could go back in time and fix the mistakes you’ve made in your life?
While Marion County delegates haven’t developed a time machine to take us all back to last spring, they have introduced a bill that could “fix” a mistake that was made when a smoking ban was passed without any regard for public opinion.
And not only would it “fix” our mistake, it would prevent any other county in the state without a smoking ban from making the same mistake.
House Majority Whip Mike Caputo and Delegates Tim Manchin and Linda Longstreth, all D-Marion, have sponsored a bill that would require all smoking bans not yet in effect and all future bans to be approved by the state’s county commissions — not the county boards of health. If passed — the bill is now in the House’s Political Subdivisions Committee — that would means that Marion’s smoking ban questionably passed last year would have to be approved by the county commission before it goes into effect.
Last spring in Marion County, the five-member health board revised its 2005 smoking ban by prohibiting smoking in all public places, including bars, fraternal organizations (except at private functions) and limited video lottery parlors. But the health board shamefully never truly sought public comment for this measure.
The amended ordinance was passed March 28 without a public hearing. While the board asked for public comment on the new ordinance, it did so 24 weeks in advance of the vote. On Oct. 11, 2007, and two following days, the board ran 79-word newspaper legal ads about the revision. The ads drew only four comments from the public in response after they were published. Meanwhile, thousands of letters and public meetings were held on similar ordinances in Monongalia and Harrison counties.
Like the delegates who sponsored the bill, the Times West Virginian editorial board has never spoken out against the end result — a ban on smoking — but about about the process by which the ban was passed.
“Right now, it’s badly handled, and I just think that voters have a hard time accepting that a body that is not accountable to the public, to the electorate, can impose these regulations on the county,” Manchin said.
If HB 2932 passes, there would also be concrete notice requirements for public comment and public hearings, and if the county commission fails to act on a ban within a certain number of days, the regulation would become void.
If the bill passes, Marion County residents might actually get a say about the smoking ban — something they’ve been denied for the past year. With the county commission responsible for the ultimate decision, in the hands of the government body it should be open to public discourse instead of passed in the back room of a local restaurant.
Opinion
Bill would ‘fix’ mistake regarding smoking ban
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Best interests would be served if FGH and city both move on
In December, Marion County Circuit Court Judge David Janes ruled that the Fairmont General Hospital Board of Directors can appoint its own members and that the City of Fairmont’s charter no longer applies to the hospital.
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Educational partnership a step in the right direction
Officials involved in a new educational partnership between Pierpont Community & Technical College and FirstEnergy Corp. call the endeavor a “great opportunity.”
We think it’s even more than that. -
Meth causes senseless waste, terrible damage in West Virginia
Terrible damage is inflicted on West Virginia — and upon abusers and their families — because dopeheads feel compelled to blank out their minds with drugs of many sorts. We can’t understand the sad need that impels them. It causes a senseless loss to society and individuals, filling prisons and wrecking jobs.
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Limited funds for workforce training can’t be wasted through drug abuse
There’s only so much money to go around when it comes to workforce training. And with the national economy still in a bit of a slump, there’s even less money to go around and even more of a reason to make the money invested in these programs count.
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A better way to choose presidential candidates?
Forty-seven more primaries to go.
If you feel like it’s been a wild Republican primary election season, with accusations of sexual misconduct, candidates coming and going, who makes how much and more, just remember one thing. There are 47 more primaries to go. -
Marion Countians should be proud as United Way has exceeded its goal
The United Way, we are most pleased to report, has reached its goal for the fifth consecutive year. In fact, it has actually surpassed its goal, and that is even better news.
Just to refresh your mind, the 2011-12 goal was set at $410,000, and it has passed that by $3,000. -
Americans can’t afford Washington to be ‘broken’
It’s certainly not difficult to sense division and apprehension in the United States of America.
The federal government is divided, with Democrat Barack Obama in his fourth year as president and Democrats in control of the Senate, while Republicans are in charge of the House of Representatives. -
West Virginia has much to offer in bid for ‘cracker’ plant
More than 12,000 jobs. A payroll of $729 million. State tax revenues of $95 million.
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Statewide ban on texting while driving would help save lives
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s support during his State of the State address for a ban on text messaging while driving has given lawmakers a push to pass this needed law.
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School Innovation Zone funding helps make North Marion ‘learning laboratory’
North Marion High School is proud to be in position to be a “learning laboratory.”
This month, the West Virginia Board of Education voted to award $2.6 million to 11 schools and counties seeking to become School Innovation Zones. North Marion received $299,910 for its program. Funding is to be used over the next three years. - More Opinion Headlines
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Best interests would be served if FGH and city both move on
