The town of Rindge has recently been given signs free of charge to help with the enforcement of the town’s already-existing tobacco-free policy for the town’s recreation areas.
The signs were provided by the Cheshire Coalition for Tobacco Free Communities – a partner of Healthy Monadnock – which is partnering with Cheshire County towns to create tobacco-free environments in areas that children frequent.
“Rindge had trouble enforcing their policy, so we gave them adequate signage,” said Jane Skantze, CCTFC’s tobacco specialist. “Several of the communities that we worked with had some form of policy, but many did not.”
Skantze said the CCTFC is able to provide signage and help with policy development free of charge, as the initiative is being funded by a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grant.
In total, Skantze said CCTFC has worked with nine Cheshire County towns – Rindge, Harrisville, Keene, Marlborough, Swanzey, Nelson, Rindge, Troy, Walpole, and Winchester – adding that the group would love to work with other Cheshire County towns.
Dublin Town Administrator Sherry Miller said Wednesday that the town is aware of the group’s proposal to help, but the Select Board has not reviewed the proposal. The board could discuss the proposal as soon as next Monday, according to Miller.
The town of Dublin does not currently have such a policy at this time, said Miller.
Jaffrey Town Manager Jon Frederick said the town already has a policy that prohibits smoking near town office buildings and parks in town, adding that any decision regarding policy change would be up to the board.
Nicholas Handy can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 235 or nhandy@ledgertranscript.com.