“A Zero Smoking Policy”

Housing Authority votes unanimously to revise current smoking policy; chair calls for tougher enforcement

By Mark E. Vogler

Saugus Housing Authority Chair John Cannon is calling for “a zero smoking policy” on authority properties – both inside the buildings and on the premises.

“There’s a smoking problem still existing in this building [Heritage Heights] and I will not tolerate it,” Cannon told colleagues at last week’s (Feb. 12) meeting.

“We need to adopt a zero smoking policy,” he said.

Authority Executive Director Katelynn M. Lemieux told Cannon “We already have one in place.”

Lemieux said she can’t guarantee smoke-free premises, adding that strict enforcement entails the filing of incident reports.

But Cannon insisted the current policy is not being enforced well enough and also needs to be revised to comply with current federal regulations. “We can adopt a policy and build on it,” Cannon said.

The authority voted 5-0 for a revision of the current smoking policy. Lemieux said she can work on revisions of the current policy and have it ready to be presented to authority members at a meeting next month.

Smoking at Heritage Heights on Talbot Street has been an ongoing concern of tenants for several years and the source of numerous complaints. Following tenant complaints last year about smoking in the gazebo, Lemieux worked with former authority Chair William Stewart to designate a “smoking table” near the visitors’ parking lot of Heritage Heights.

“According to the federal HUD regulations, you’re not supposed to smoke in the buildings or on the property,” Cannon said in an interview this week.

“It’s concerning to me and I’ve raised a lot of hell about it. And I’ve also gotten a lot of support from the tenants. The current regulations aren’t being enforced by the authority staff and that needs to change,” Cannon said.

“She [Lemieux] is going to put forth a new ‘no smoking’ policy for consideration. We’ll get to vote on it in April and move forward. This is a quality of life issue that I ran on when I got elected to the board last year. We don’t need people being subjected to smoke and having their health affected,” he said.

The current policy hinges on the filing of reports by residents or staff who witness smoking incidents. The first smoking offense is punishable by a fine of $100. A second offense carries a $250 penalty. A third offense carries a $500 fine and the commencement of eviction proceedings.