LEWISTON- Use of tobacco products will no longer be allowed on the sidewalks surrounding the Oak Park Apartments on Oak Street.
The ban applies to parts of Oak Street, Park Street, and Middle Street. The City Council approved the proposal at its Tuesday night meeting, with Ward Seven Councilor Bret Martel the only vote against.
Ward Three Councilor Scott Harriman made the request after hearing complaints from residents of the apartment building. When windows are open during the warmer seasons, cigarette smoke from nearby smokers tends to make its way into them.
An aerial view of the block affected
According to the new changes, smoking will still be allowed on the sidewalks opposite the Oak Park Apartments block.
The city already bans the use of tobacco products on sections of certain city streets.
Areas a-e already had a tobacco use ban; areas f-h were approved on Tuesday
Ward One Councilor Josh Nagine, who serves on the area’s Public Health Committee, read a statement from the group calling for them to be consulted in the future on matters such as this.
Nagine later asked if the ban could extended to both sides of the streets being proposed. The public notice for Tuesday’s hearing only mentioned specific sides of those streets, meaning that a change was not deemed possible that night.
Nagine agreed to have the Public Health Committee give their feedback on the matter, with a future discussion by the Council about extending the ban to both sides of those streets.