Butler's parks and playgrounds will now be tobacco and nicotine free zones under a policy approved by City Council Thursday.

Council voted 4-1 in favor of the policy following a brief presentation from Kailyn Goldinger of the Keystone Wellness Programs.

Goldinger said the city will receive up to 15 “Young Lungs at Play” signs to post at its parks and playgrounds.

The signs send a simple, but clear message.

“It simply states this is a tobacco-free zone for kids,” Goldinger said.

The newly-approved policy will be forwarded to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, which will place the city on the department's honor roll for enacting the plan, she said.

Councilman Jeff Smith said he did some research and learned that county-owned parks and green spaces in some municipalities already have no-smoking policies. However, some municipalities don't have such policies in place in public parks.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Young Lungs at Play is a program aimed at helping communities create tobacco-free parks, playgrounds and recreational areas for children. As of this past fall, more than 1,150 communities across the state have adopted outdoor tobacco-free policies at parks, zoos, athletic fields, playgrounds, trails and even city sidewalks and streets, including 28 areas in Butler listed on the department's honor roll.

Mayor Ben Smith was the lone dissenting vote regarding the policy. He said his decision stemmed from a discussion with police Chief Bob O'Neill, and voted against the policy because he feels officers do not have time to enforce it. O'Neill was not present at the council meeting.

Smith explained that while he isn't opposed to the policy, he doesn't want a policy on the books that won't be enforced.

“I'm not opposed in theory, just in practice,” he said.

Ben Smith agreed with Councilman Bob Dandoy, who said the policy will be difficult to enforce, but the signs might deter people from smoking at the parks and serve as educational tools.

Councilman Mike Walter said he also believes the signs will help eliminate tobacco use at the parks.

Councilman Jeff Smith said the policy won't be a top enforcement issue for police, but it gives officers another law enforcement tool.

“This isn't going to be a targeted offense,” Jeff Smith said.

LED lights coming to city buildings

Council also unanimously voted to accept a $20,390 proposal from Hercules LED to replace existing lights with LED lights at the Public Safety Building and the City Building.

The vote came after a presentation from Eric Lamb, of Hercules LED, who said the change would result in a 60 percent reduction in the city's average electric bill for lighting those buildings.

Lamb said the existing lights last 5,000 to 6,000 hours before beginning to fail, but the new, military grade LED lights last 74,000 hours, or 28 years of typical use, and come with five-year warranties.

The cost of converting the lights at the Public Safety Building is $15,195, while the City Building will cost $5,195, according to Lamb. He added the city has the option of spreading the payments over 60 months, but interest fees will be charged.

Lamb also told officials the city will receive a $518 rebate from West Penn Power for converting the Public Safety Building and $275 for the City Building.

Controller appointed

City council members appointed Barbara Hall as controller to replace the late Gretchen Ehlman, who died Dec. 20 after holding the job for 13 years. She also worked for Butler Redevelopment Authority for 27 years, including 17 as executive director.

Hall's appointment runs through January 2022. The position will appear on the November 2021 ballot of the municipal election. The next term will run from January 2022 to January 2026.

Hall is currently employed as the business manager for Neighborhood Academy in Pittsburgh, according to the resume she submitted to the city.