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Commissioner offers insight on Clean Air Act developments

NEW CUMBERLAND — With the Clean Air Act once again in the news, a Hancock County commissioner provided some insight to health board members as to a recent order requesting the act be reversed.

During Tuesday’s Hancock County Board of Health meeting, Commissioner Joe Barnabei made an appearance to speak on the latest developments of the Clean Air Act and a recent request presented to the commission.

The request was presented to the Commission last month by former MTR Gaming Group CEO Ted Arneault, who asked commissioners to reconsider the law, which was enacted in 2015 and bans smoking in all public buildings in the county.

Barnabei, who serves as the commission’s health board representative, said he and fellow commissioners Jeff Davis and Paul “Rex” Cowey III have heard several comments from residents about the issue — some who prefer to keep the act as is, others who want it repealed, some who want it kept but with exemptions, and still others who believe it should be up to the businesses to make the decision.

“For us to take a side, we can’t,” Barnabei told the board. “All we have to do is our due diligence to try to listen to what everybody says and work on the issue, and I just want to explain to you, that’s where we’re at. There’s just as many that don’t want it than do want it, and they do call.”

Barnabei also complimented the board’s role and understands their position.

Health board member Phil Rujak said as a health board, the mission is to watch for the health and well-being of county residents.

“What we need to make people understand is that we’re the board of health,” Rujak said. “We have to make decisions. How would it look if the board of health were to pass something that’s unhealthy? I think that’s something you need to know. You’re the board of health.”

“If you want to change this, talk to their legislators and have them change them. We’re like you Joe, we’re only doing what our mission is to do.”

At a Jan. 26 meeting, commissioners agreed to seek outside counsel after assistant county prosecutor Mike Lucas requested to remove himself from the case, noting then that he did not feel comfortable advising commissioners whether or not to pursue the matter further. The commissioners continue to look into the matter.

In other business:

— The board approved a motion to appoint Rujak as vice chairman. The matter received a 7-0 vote, with Rujak abstaining.

— Health Department Administrator Jackie Huff provided the board information on the new addition of the health department’s website, which includes the results of inspections of businesses completed by the department’s sanitarians.

As reported last weekend, the inspections page is divided into 10 categories, and display the date of the inspection, where it was done, which violations–if any–were found and whether it was a repeat offense, and what steps have either been taken or are recommended to fix the problem.

“Anything that is public record is on there,” Huff said. “So anytime anybody would like to see anything we’re doing, we’re an open-faced book that they can look at it.”

Huff said she has had calls from residents who were satisfied with the website. The inspections can be viewed by visiting www.hancockcountyhealthdepartment.com, and by clicking on the Inspection Reports link.

— At the conclusion of the meeting, the board went into executive session to discuss personnel matters, with no action taken.

The board of health will hold its next meeting 4 p.m. April 4 inside the Hancock County Commission room at the Hancock County Courthouse.

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