HOULTON, Maine — A change in the way the town of Houlton reviews requests for smoking areas on town-owned property is in the works.
Currently, all town-owned properties, such as Houlton Community Park, are smoke-free areas. Any group that wishes to hold an event, such as the BlackFly Brewfest, must apply for a permit to allow smoking in a designated area only.
All of those requests must go before the Houlton Town Council for approval. Houlton Town Manager Marian Anderson asked councilors Monday evening if they would be in favor of changing the town’s ordinance for such requests, so that they did not have to come before the full council for review.
“It doesn’t seem to be a good use of the council’s time,” Anderson said. “There are a lot more important things for you to do. Plus, I think the (Civic Center) staff is capable and very conscientious that when we provide this space we do it in accordance with regulations.”
Councilors unanimously supported the change.
“I think this is a great idea,” councilor Sue Tortello said. “I would think that the (Civic Center) supervisor would be in a much better position to be able to make this decision.”
“I think it was originally put in place because the town manager at that time did not want to force the supervisor at the Civic Center to take on that task,” council chairman Jane Torres said.
Any individual or group that is denied a smoking permit may appeal to the full council.
In addition, Anderson informed the board that the town had purchased four smoking containers, dubbed “Sidewalk Butlers,” to be placed at various downtown locations in the hopes it will cut down on the number of cigarette butts thrown onto the ground.
Anderson said the receptacles are similar to ones used by the town of Brunswick.
The council first broached the subject of smoking containers back in May, when the board discussed the amount of litter in Market Square. No action was taken at that time.
On Tuesday, June 25, the town’s public works department installed the receptacles along Main Street and in Market Square. Anderson said she hopes those who smoke will use the containers for their cigarette butts in an effort to maintain Houlton’s downtown beauty.
