Board of Aldermen 05-14-2019 Page 31
also the Governor and whether the Governor is going to sign a bill that potentially is going to reduce
the amount of revenue that the state brings in from smoking taxes which is unfortunately something we
have to consider here. And that’s a long process and that’s a process that’s not going to happen
overnight. But this hasn’t been watered down, | mean | don’t think people’s positions are going to
change on this ordinance moving forward. It seems to me we can work this out tonight and take a vote
on it one way or another.
Alderman Klee
Yes | wanted to address something that Alderman Kelly had said. | don’t think there would be an issue
if someone were under 21 selling it because we do allow these people to sell alcohol so | think it would
kind of work within that same thing. They probably at 16 can’t do it but | think 17 in the grocery stores
and so on. So | don’t think that’s really an issue but | admire you bringing that up as a concern and so
on. As far as the Chantix and Nicorette Gum and so on | would hope that wouldn't fall within this, but it
is a possibility; it does refer to it as tobacco product. | don’t know if those fall within the category of
tobacco product and | would hate to hurt somebody who was trying to go through some type of
cessation. And again, | do think we are watering it down and truthfully there is no compromise.
And Alderman O’Brien did bring up the fact, oh I’m sorry, Alderman Harriott-Gathright brought up the
fact that the members here are from the House and not of the Senate and to say that we have not
done anything in the House | think is unfair. | have promised to go forward in September as | know
some of the others have. To say that we have done nothing to this point, we sat and did wait for the
Senate to come forward; perhaps we shouldn’t have, maybe we should have put in our own as | am
going to do. But! do think that is unfair attack and so on. | just don’t want to see this bubble in
Nashua and | agree | think it is time to move this question forward and vote on it.
Alderman Clemons
| only wanted to quickly just address that | wasn’t questioning anybody’s sincerity here and I’m not sure
where that came from. | understand and | appreciate the poll that Alderman Jette said to me but | am
talking about the constituents that reached out to me directly. And the ones that bothered to reach out
to me directly are 3 to 1 against this, even the compromise. Sometimes and again | am going against
what | feel is the right thing to do because in this one I’m going to listen to my constituents, it’s what,
l’ve you know, we’ve debated it and tonight, I’m sorry but there are just too many things that
unfortunately, we can’t address it all. There’s always an exception to the rule, | live by that. And
unfortunately the rule here is too much for me and we are better off letting the State handle it.
Alderman Schmidt
This is such a tough decision | wish it was really easy and it’s not. There’s only one thing that is a real
loser for me on this bill and it’s that children will be punished. | do not want to see that; | don’t think
kids should get in the system, | think that’s wrong and if that was gone | would love this, otherwise, |
cannot vote for it.
Alderman Gathright
| have a question first, the State Law is there a penalty associated with that do you know?
Attorney Bolton
Yes. I’m not sure of the level of the fine.
Alderwoman Melizzi-Golja
Alderman Jette is checking.
