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Huntington Smoking Ordinance Fails 2-9
For you by Art
Harvath, Voter, HNN Correspondent
Huntington city council had a packed agenda Monday night when it met for
about 4 hours at city hall.
Councilman Tom McCallister’s attempt to enact a smoking ordinance
in the city failed by a vote of 2-9. McCallister and Councilman Charlie
Thompson voted for the ordinance. If passed, the ordinance would have
allowed smoking in certain businesses like restaurants and bingo halls.
McCallister contends that a nonelected body such as the Cabell County
Board of Health does not have the authority to act upon such a decision.
This is one subject that Mayor David Felinton and McCallister agree upon.
“I don’t think the Health Department should have that power,”
said Felinton. “I do not think the government should be telling businesses
what to do,” he said.
However, the mayor and McCallister butted heads later in the meeting during
discussion about an order of council that was up for vote to direct the
mayor to provide council with a status report on various projects and
happenings.
The mayor has long disagreed with the authority of council ordering him
to take certain actions. “You can order me to find a cure for cancer,
but if it’s out of my reach and abililty….,” said Felington.
McCallister, who brought the order before council because of the flooding
problems around Enslow Park, took exception to the mayor’s comments.
“I have a problem with you saying ‘I don’t have to,’”
said McCallister to Felinton. “Mr. Mayor, you are on thin ice with
me anyway, and I think you are on thin ice with a lot of these council
people,” said McCallister. “You may not be sitting there very
much longer, and you can probably read what that says, that says impeachment,"
continued McCallister.
The order failed 2-9 with McCallister and councilman Jim Insco voting
for it.
A first reading of an ordinance authorizing the Mayor to award a contract
for the continued installation of handicap ramps in Huntington also caused
much debate. B&L, of Ashland Ky., has been picked to do the work for
$208,820. However Red Dawson Construction, a local firm, bid the job for
$214,460. The money will come from the Community Development Block Grant.
City council has passed an ordinance allowing businesses inside the city
limits a 6% leeway above the bids from out-of-town bidders. It was pointed
out that the CDBG funds can’t be paid to the Dawson firm because
of that law, but they could be paid to Dawson if the work done by them
is of better quality. The question of whose work was of better quality
was discussed at length.
This ordinance faces an uphill battle, not only because of the quality
of work question, but also from objections from local labor to the contract
going to B&L. The 2nd reading of this ordinance should prove interesting
as it will be open to public comment.
