Tobacco Documents Online

C THE TOBACCO INSTIT UTt'. 1776 K STREET. NORTHWEST/WASHINGTON; D.C: 20006 202/457-480v. C JUL o 3170 RICHARD E. SCANLAN. JR. Public Affairs Manager Middle Atlantic States 8 NbrthFerry Street Schenectady:N.Y.12305 518rXX-3=382-5575 June 28, 1978 MEMORANDUM TO: JACK KELLY FROM: RIC SCANLAN RE: STATUS OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY BOARD OF'HEALTH AMENDMENTS TO THE COUNTY SANITARY CODE. The Westchester County Board of Health~took no action at its June 27th meeting on the proposed amendments to the county sanitary code. Four presentations were made to the Board at the meeting, and the Board adjourned without taking any action on the amendments. The next meeting of the Board has been set for July 27th, at which time additional presentations will be made by interested parties. I am informed the Board will not take any action on any form of pro- posed amendments for at least several months, in order to solicit comments on both sides of the issue. The Board of Health meeting of June 27th began at 9:00 a.m. with a quorum of six members present. Following brief introductory remarks by Board President Dr. James M. Jones, the Acting Commissioner of Health, Dr. E. Franklin Hall, read several pieces of correspondence he had received from citizens of the County on the pending second draft. One letter was read fr=the local chapter of the American Cancer Society, one letter from a Mr. Ernest Quinnby who opposed unnecessary bureaucratic action, and one letter from a Mr. E. J. Downing who also opposed the amendments. Four presentations were then made to the Board. I spoke of the matter of no scientific evidence being submitted which would warrant such action by the Board. A Dr. John Cannon read a statement prepared by Dr. Donald Robbins who was unable to be present for the meeting. Dr. Robbins is the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee of the Westchester Chapter of the American Lung Association. Mrs. Rita Arn- heim, President of the Westchester Chapter of the N..Y.S. Restaurant Association spoke of her opposition to the amendments, and submitted petitions containing 300 names to the Board. Fred Sampson, President of the N.Y.S. Restaurant Association read a prepared statement in which he opposed the amendments and called upon the Board to support a voluntary program. He discussed his Association's plans to institute a statewide voluntary program~beginning in September. Mr. John Leo, District Manager for Denny's Restaurant was scheduled to appear but did not make the meeting. 03595211

C Jack Kelly Page Two Following the presentations, several questions were a;,kedrela- tive to the voluntary program being instituted by the Restaurant As- sociation. There were no questions from the Board concerning the health aspects of the public smoking issue. I believe this is be- cause of the presence at the meeting of Dr. Charles Waite, who was introduced to the Board as a medical research consultant and an expert in the field of the medical aspects of the issue of public smoking. Dr. Waite did not make a statement, but his presence at the meeting prevented a distorted presentation of the health argu- ments normally used by the American Cancer Society and Lung Assoc. Several brief statements were made by interested residents of Westchester County. Mark Kilik, owner of the Pipe and Bowl Tobacco Shop in White Plains talked of the courtesy smokers display, and he urged the Board to not adopt the pending amendments. A woman of unknown affiliation, but believed to be with the Lung Association, spoke of her physical suffering in the office where she is employed when exposedto tobacco slnoke. Board President Jones then ended discussion of the issue and announced the Board would further consider the pending amendments and stated they were still in the formative phase. He seemed to lean towards the voluntary approach rather than amendments to the Sanitary Code, but he made no such statement to that effect. I will continue to actively monitor the efforts of the Board of Health during the coming months, and work to develop additional presentations which may be made by groups and associations in the County who oppose the amendments. As the Board is still seeking comments from affected parties, the correspondence from residents of the County should still continue. If you have any questions concerning this matter, please let me know.