Town to ban smoking in local bars Two Brothers first to implement change

Author: Polly Johnson

The times they are a changing, and that change is beginning right here in Vermont. Last week residents met in town meetings across the state to consider proposals as varied as banning smoking in restaurants and requesting the recall of Vermont's U.S. troops stationed in Iraq.

In a Middlebury town vote on March 1, residents voted 706 to 200 to advise the town's selectboad to ban smoking in all public bars and restaurants in Middlebury.

The vote came after the Middlebury town meeting Feb. 22 when the selectboard met to discuss issues pertinent to the town. Selectboard members present at the meeting included Town Manager Bill Finger, Police Chief Tom Hanley and Town Planner Fred Dunnington, among others.

Since the smoking ban vote, one town establishment has already responded to what they saw as a ringing endorsement for extinguishing cigarettes. Two Brothers Tavern announced in a press release on March 2 - the day after the vote - that they have decided to immediately institute a "smoke-free environment."

Beal Jacobs, bar manager and co-proprietor of Two Brothers, said, "Initially [the smoking ban] might be negative, at least at the bar, although for the most part we have received positive feedback, even from smokers. Plus we are going to go non-smoking on March 14, which is about three months before anyone else." Two Brothers decided to enact the ban now based on overwhelming town response and felt there was no reason to wait until they were required to do so by the state.

In the press release, Co-Proprietor Holmes Jacobs stated, "Many of our valued customers smoke. This decision is not meant to ostracize anyone, or show favoritism to one group of patrons over another. We respect a person's right to smoke. To us this is not an issue about taking away a person's rights. It is about creating a cleaner indoor environment that all people must share."

The decision came after much consultation with patrons, who ultimately agreed that the smoke made for a negative dining experience. The staff at Two Brothers said they are confident that customers who stayed away from the restaurant because of its smoky environment will now realize that it is a "comfortable environment with a wonderful cuisine."

Another issue of importance to Middlebury residents -- especially admist debate over the impact of stores like Wal-Mart moving into small towns- - was a propostion to tighten the town's zoning restrictions. While a vote has not been taken on a proposed amendment that would limit retail stores to 50,000 square-feet, 500 citizens filled out surveys, with the majority supporting an imposition of "big box store restrictions." The issue will be discussed at the next town meeting of the selectboard.

A third issue discussed was a proposal to call for the return of Vermont's U.S. troops from Iraq. Similar propositions were debated in towns across the state.

Middlebury residents voted 609-285 in favor of a resolution that would encourage the return of U.S. troops from Iraq. A similar meeting was held in Dummerston, Vt., where nearly 120 Vermont citizens showed up to give their perspectives on the ongoing war.

So far, about 1,200 National Guard members from Vermont have been enlisted to serve in the war in Iraq. Vermont has the second highest rate of troops per capita currently in Iraq, behind Hawaii. Additionally, Vermont has the highest percentage of soldiers who have died in Iraq of any state, including four members of the National Guard and seven members from the active military. Vermont National Guard spokeswoman First Lt. Veronica J. Saffo said at the meeting in Dummerston, as reported by The New York Times, "Vermont is a very small state, and people are really feeling the effect of this." The towns of Vermont have yet to see what will become of the proposed resolution, but it is definitely clear that Vermont residents will continue to fight for their loved ones and fellow community members who are currently fighting in Iraq.

The final issue voted on was a proposal to create a publicly financed health care and insurance system for Vermont. Dr. Jack Mayer, a pediatrician in Middlebury, critcized the fact that the state does not "have a system based on equity," and used examples from his own practice as well as a 20-foot long spreadsheet of all the insurance companies his office has to deal with to illustrate his belief that a universal health care program is necessary. Residents voted in favor of the resolution.