Condo Media - February 2012 - 22

VERMONT N e w s R e g i o n a l

Downtown Smoking Bans
Burlington Considering Non-Smoking Ordinance
he Burlington City Council is considering an ordinance that would ban smoking in the city’s downtown area. The ordinance would prohibit smokers from lighting up outside, except on private property and sections of sidewalk leased to cafes and restaurants. The proposed no-smoking zone would be bounded by Pearl Street, South Winooski Avenue, and King and Pine streets, according to an article in the Burlington Free Press. A separate ordinance, also under consideration, would designate a section of City Hall Park as an area where smoking would be allowed.

C A I

T

The Burlington Housing Authority already banned smoking in subsidized housing complexes, and a statewide ban, enacted in 2005, prohibits smoking in “enclosed public places,” defined as restaurants, bars, private clubs and bingo venues. The law was expanded in 2009 to close a loophole that allowed non-hospitality workplaces to establish “smoking rooms.” Several other Vermont communities have banned or restricted smoking in public areas or are considering measures doing so. Rutland approved an ordinance last year prohibiting smoking in public parks; Springfield Select Board has tentatively approved a mea-

sure barring smoking in parks and recreational fields; and Bennington town officials are considering banning smoking on town-owned property. Supporters say the restrictions improve public health and reduce litter in public spaces; critics say they infringe on personal liberty. The most recent tally by anti-smoking groups found statewide measures barring smoking in enclosed places (with varied exemptions) in 27 states. Approximately 500 cities, towns and counties have banned smoking in public parks, according to the report, including Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Salt Lake City and Albuquerque. CM

CAI-NE GOLD PARTNER PROFILE

Swerling Milton Winnick
Public Insurance Adjusters, Inc.
Swerling Milton Winnick, located in Wellesley, MA, is the largest and most experienced public insurance adjusting firm in New England, with an in-house staff of claim professionals to counsel policyholders in the preparation, negotiation and adjustment of damages to their property (real or personal) and to develop and process business interruption claims. SMW brings to the table a knowledge of property insurance policy terms and conditions (and the court decisions underlying them), a thorough intimacy with the details of building construction and building systems, and a vast experience with the way insurers process claims. SMW has in-house construction specialists who have a background in the building business, as well as embracing a broad array of condominium, residential, commercial and industrial projects. In addition, SMW employs personnel who concentrate exclusively on personal property claims — be they household, retail, wholesale or industrial. The three principals of SMW — Paul Winnick, James Harlor and Diane Swerling — keep a watchful oversight and are actively involved in each claim, maintaining a personal hand in ensuring that client communications are ongoing and the claims processing is aggressive and timely. The depth and skill and professionalism with which SMW serves its client base are attested to not only by letters of commendation, but also by the respect and admiration of insurance company attorneys and claims personnel. Contact: Paul Winnick, ext. 115 36 Washington St., Ste. 310 Wellesley Hills, MA 02481 Phone: (781) 416-1000 Fax: (781) 416-1004 www.swerling.com

22

CONDO MEDIA • FEBRUARY 2012
http://www.swerling.com http://www.swerling.com
Condo Media - February 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Condo Media - February 2012
