Adams Nearing Completion of Revamped Smoking Bylaws

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story
After 2 1/2 years, the Board of Health can see an end to the process of developing new smoking bylaws.

ADAMS, Mass. — Two and a half years after the Board of Health first identified shortfalls in the town's tobacco laws, new policies are now just months away.

The laws range from outright bans on some nictotine products to simply asking stores to post signage saying they won't sell to minors.

The process started in 2011, when electronic cigarettes first began to find their way into the county, Northern Berkshire Tobacco-Free Community Partnership Project Coordinator Joan Rubel presented the board an array of new products that had little regulation.

The board felt it needed to draft new bylaws. But board members later decided since the items weren't being sold in town, they wouldn't start regulating them.

However, in 2012, then Selectmen Chairman Arthur "Skip" Harrington asked the board to craft the laws and in the last year and a half, the bylaw considerations unfolded into a complete rewrite of the town's policies.

During that process, Chairman Richard Frost resigned and the board put the work on hold until another member joined. After Allen Mendel was elected, the board took the bylaws back up for consideration.

On Wednesday, the board picked through the most updated draft laws and had only one outstanding question — the definition of non-residential "roll your own" machines. The laws are intended to ban a commercial outfit from coming to town and selling cigarettes at a lower price with the use of "roll your own machines" (which have popped up in convenience stores in other parts of the country).


Mendel said he wanted that definition to clearly state that the town's ban is strictly on commercial usage of those machines and not on home use.

The draft will now be sent to Town Counsel Edmund St. John III for review while Mendel looks into new wording for the definition in hopes that by the Nov. 6 meeting the board can cast the final, approving vote and set a public hearing.

The laws include bans on smoking in smoking bars (such as a hookah bar) town-owned parks, athletic fields and playgrounds, on public transportation, within 15 feet of a municipal building entrance and on outdoor spaces where food is served. Those bans include the use of electronic cigarettes.

The laws also include dealers of any nicotine delivery product — a term eyed to cover all types products from cigarettes to electronic cigarettes to even nicotine items not yet invented — post signage saying the products can't be sold to minors and apply for permits through the Board of Health. There are fines built in for violations.

There are also bans on any sale of blunt wraps, packages with less than 20 cigarettes, self-service vending machines or self-service displays and sale of the products in pharmacies or educational facilities — also with built-in fines for violations.

While the board agrees some of the bans aren't necessary at this point, the goal was to be proactive to prevent such businesses as a hookah bar from opening in town.


Tags: bylaws,   smoking regulations,   smoking-related items,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Hoosac Valley High School is Moving and Shaking

There have been some major shifts within the Hoosac Valley Regional School District recently, all of which have focused on enhancing the student experience to make it a place where ALL students can find their path.
 
In 2023, Hoosac Valley High School was designated an Innovation Pathway School by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and has since restructured the Program of Studies, utilized creative scheduling, and expanded internship opportunities. Part of this transformation includes participating in a "Portrait of a Graduate" cohort alongside four other Berkshire County schools to determine a collective vision for student success, in partnership with the BARR Foundation.
 
The Innovation Pathways at HVHS are designed to give students coursework and experience in a specific high-demand industry, such as technology, engineering, healthcare, or life sciences. Currently, Biomedical Science & Healthcare and Environmental Studies have received official state IP designation. In addition to the IP designated pathways, HVHS offers programs in Engineering & Technology, Business & Entrepreneurship, Arts & Entertainment, Education, and Sports Medicine. The result is that students have an opportunity for a transformative experience – enabling them to build essential skills, gain awareness of future career opportunities, and make informed choices about post-secondary education in promising fields.
 
Principal Colleen Byrd notes, "What makes our program special is that entry into the Pathway of your choice allows a student to access Advanced Placement and dual enrollment college courses, as well as internships in the community to set them up for success after high school."
 
The Portrait of a Graduate initiative consists of a team of Hoosac educators and students who exemplify the essential skills, practices, and beliefs that define learning experiences across the district. They work to outline the competencies, values, skills, and knowledge that define our vision for student success – keeping in mind that not every student's pathway will look the same. The District's goal is to ensure that all students graduate as responsible people, prepared individuals, lifelong learners, global citizens, critical thinkers, and thoughtful communicators.
 
Another recent change district-wide in grades K-12 is the "Crew" culture. Teachers and students now have time each day to create positive connections and build authentic relationships with one another. Through Responsive Classroom at the elementary school and Crew at the middle and high schools, students and staff gather for 30 minutes each day to engage in meaningful experiences rooted in mutual and shared interests. 
The Crew block is a prioritized structure that allows staff to support all students socially, emotionally, and academically – anchoring them and promoting the Portrait of a Graduate competencies. Crew takes many forms at the high school, such as gardening, bird watching, yoga, and sports talk with visits to college games.
 
View Full Story

More Adams Stories