Public health and keeping kids safe is priority #1! Mr. Kadelski's description leaves out important context.
The tobacco regulation was not created in secret. The Board followed the legal process, including publishing notice of the public hearing and posting meeting information on the town website. Residents and business owners were free to attend, submit comments, and participate in the process.
It is true that some business owners later stated they were unaware of certain provisions. However, the Board complied with the legal notice requirements, and at least one retailer had previously received correspondence referencing the regulation following an earlier violation.
I also find it noteworthy that criticism is directed solely at me for not personally notifying businesses, while other Board members—some of whom had relationships with businesses affected by the regulation—are not held to the same standard.
As for the hearings themselves, my role was to ensure that the Board followed the regulation that had been lawfully adopted and to provide each business with an opportunity to be heard. Residents can watch the recordings and decide for themselves whether the proceedings were fair and professional.
My focus was on applying the same rules equally to all businesses, regardless of who owned them or who their friends were. It's not wrong to want to protect our kids.
It is also worth noting that during the violation proceedings, former Board member Christina Predella made motions to dismiss the violations. Residents can review the meeting recordings and minutes and draw their own conclusions regarding the positions taken by individual Board members.
Public health and keeping kids safe is priority #1! Mr. Kadelski's description leaves out important context.