PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- The Public Safety, Health and Human Services Committee voted unanomously against putting a proposal to ban smoking at private/fraternal organizations on the agenda for Portland City Council's vote.
The committee met tonight to discuss a proposal to ban smoking at city owned and maintained parks and private/fraternal clubs or organizations.
Members of the organizations asked to maintain their right under state law to allow smoking in their private clubs.
The state requires the clubs and organizations to vote on whether to allow smoking, every three years.
Mark Rilly was a subcontracted Disc Jockey for the Deering Memorial Post and says he was denied the right to vote.
Committe Chairperson, Ed Suslovic, says he has concerns about club employees' right to fresh air and that Portland has the right to ban smoking at those facilites, but the committee isn't looking to go beyond state law at this point.