ROCKPORT — The Town of Rockport officially became a tobacco-free workplace Sept. 1, which fell over a holiday weekend for most employees.

The Rockport Select Board approved an amended workplace smoking policy at its July 9 meeting with a Sept. 1 implementation date, so town employees could be notified about the change and provided a reasonable amount of time before it was enforced.

The amended policy states that there will not be any smoking or use of tobacco products at the town’s facilities at any time.

The Select Board removed a portion of the workplace smoking policy that stated there would be a designated smoking area 15 feet outside of the town’s facilities.

The tobacco and smoke-free ban policy states that the Town of Rockport is dedicated to providing a healthy, comfortable and productive work environment for employees, clients and visitors.

The July 9 meeting was attended by Molly Stone, the Tobacco Prevention Coordinator, from the Knox County Community Health Coalition, who discussed the option of making all public areas in Rockport smoke-free.

A separate policy to possibly ban smoking in public spaces, such as the Rockport Harbor, would have to be approved by the Select Board.

According to the Town Manager’s Office, the option of banning smoking altogether at the town’s public areas is still in the discussion phase.

Rockport town employees were notified in a letter soon after the July 9 meeting from Town Manager Rick Bates about the town becoming a tobacco free workplace, effective Sept. 1.  

“There shall be no use of tobacco products including but not limited to cigarettes, chewing tobacco and electronic smoking on town owned property or vehicles,” Bates said in the employee letter.

The procedure to enforce the policy includes posting signs posted in the town office, including a copy of the new policy in the employee policy manual and orientation and training provided by employees’ supervisors.

The Town will assist employees who wish to quit using tobacco by facilitating access to recommended tobacco cessation programs and materials.

Additionally, any violations of the new policy will be handled through the town’s standard disciplinary procedure.

Reach Sarah Shepherd at news@penbaypilot.com