PORTSMOUTH — You can watch your kid play soccer at Glen Farm. Just don’t light up.
Following last year’s action to ban smoking on town beaches, the Town Council Monday night went a step further by voting unanimously to prohibit the use of tobacco products on all town-owned athletic or recreational facilities.
“This strengthens the ban,” Council President Keith Hamilton said.
The vote, which amends the current town ordinance concerning tobacco products, came after a brief public hearing during which no members of the audience chose to speak.
The ban applies to town-owned properties including, but not limited to, ball fields, playgrounds, beaches, parks, tennis or basketball courts. Under the terms of the amendment, any person violating the ordinance may be ejected from the town-owned property and fined not more than $100.
‘Proud of Portsmouth’
In other business Monday night, the council recognized the efforts of local business owners and volunteers who supported the Island Park Seals’ “polar plunge” on New Year’s Day.
The Portsmouth Business Association co-sponsored the event with The Beachcomber restaurant as a fund-raiser for two Portsmouth residents Matthew Pierce and Mary Tobin, both of whom are battling a rare bone cancer known as Ewing’s sarcoma.
“In the 40-something years that I’ve lived in this town, this is one of the best community events I’ve witnessed,” said John Vitkevich, one of the plunge’s lead organizers. “We raised over $1,700 that one day for those two kids. I’m very proud of Portsmouth.”
Project Purple Week
The council approved a proclamation naming Jan. 25 to 29 “Project Purple Week” in Portsmouth. The week is an offshoot of The Herren Project’s Project Purple initiative, which brings awareness to the dangers of substance abuse and sheds light on preventive practices.
Appointments
The council made the following reappointments:
• John Fitzgerald, of 34 Pleasant St., to the position of tree warden. In addition, Mr. Fitzgerald and James E. Garman, of 14 Sandy Point Ave., were reappointed to the Tree Commission.
• three members of the Harbor Commission: Patricia J Rossi, of 0896 Neck Farm Road, Prudence Island; Tom Grieb, of 110 Thayer Drive; and Denis Batcheller, of 40 Raynham Ave.
Joint meeting set
The council scheduled a joint workshop with the School Committee at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 23, in the Portsmouth High School library. The two panels will discuss budgetary and legislative priorities for the coming year
Race the State
The council took no action on a request from Race the State to include Portsmouth in a multi-sport event scheduled in Rhode Island on Sunday, Aug. 7.
Organizers want the race to be made up of multiple legs including running, paddling, kayaking and cycling. It would start in Little Compton and span to 10 communities and 53 miles, finishing on the Connecticut border in Westerly.
Race the State requested that for the second leg, competitors stand-up paddle from Tiverton’s Fogland Beach to town-owned Sandy Point Beach. From there they would transition to a 12.3-mile road run from Sandy Point Beach to Fort Adams in Newport.
The organizer of the event, Hugh Piggin, was not present to answer questions from the council, so members voted to table the matter until its next regular meeting on Jan. 25.
Peddler’s licenses
The council voted unanimously to amend a town ordinance to allow the town clerk to grant peddler’s licenses for special events without Town Council approval. The change doesn’t apply to people seeking year-round peddler’s licenses.
Town Clerk Joanne Mower requested the amendment, saying a council meeting is often not scheduled between the time someone applies for a license and the date of the special event.
“It’s a small step to help make the town a little more business-friendly,” said Mr. Hamilton.
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