Letter: Westfield Board of Health Discusses Smoking Ban

The Westfield Board of Health met on March 5, 2012. The Board discussed a resident’s request for an ordinance to prohibit smoking in public parks and recreational facilities. 

The town already prohibits smoking in the complex, which is enforced by the Westfield police and health departments. Smoking is also prohibited in facilities. The Board of Health concluded that should extend the ban, and we will explore other possible actions related to smoking in order to protect public health. The Board agreed that the issue of smoking in multiunit residences is complex and will rely on education to minimize the potentially harmful effects of indoor smoking on residents.

The high cost of state-mandated animal control services - currently contracted at $83,151 per year – is a continuing concern and the Board is pursuing a possible shared service agreement with 2 other towns to lower the cost.

In addition, the is sponsoring free health screenings with Overlook Medical Center in the Municipal Building.  Colorectal Education will be on Thursday, April 12, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m and Diabetes Screening will be on Thursday, May 17, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.  For more information about these programs and to register, please call the Overlook Community Health Department at 1-800-247-9580.

Information about all of the Health Department’s activities is available on its website http://www.westfieldnj.gov/health.  The complete minutes of the March 5 meeting will be posted after review and approval at our April 2 meeting, which starts at 5:30 PM in the Municipal Building.  At that meeting, the Board will also hold a mandatory hearing concerning a restaurant that had a consumer complaint and 3 consecutive Conditional Satisfactory ratings.

Lawrence D. Budnick, MD

President Westfield Board of Health 

838 Nancy Way

Westfield, NJ 07090

(day) 973-972-2900(evening) 908-232-4364

LDB838@verizon.net