
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, January 11, 1994                   TAG: 9401110191
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Joel Turner
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

CITY FURTHER RESTRICTS MUNICIPAL SMOKE ZONES

Beginning next week, smoking will be strictly limited in the Roanoke Municipal Building and other city buildings.

Under the new policy, smoking will be allowed only in specially designated rooms with ventilation systems that ensure no smoke flows into the rest of the building.

The smoking ban is an expansion of a policy instituted several years ago prohibiting smoking in hallways, elevators and lobbies.

Under the old policy, each municipal department could set rules on smoking and could designate smoking areas. Employees could smoke in some offices if the doors were closed.

But the new policy imposes a ban - except in special rooms.

James Ritchie, assistant city manager, said Monday a room on the first floor of the Municipal Building will be designated as the only place to smoke in the building.

The ban will apply to visitors as well as employees, Ritchie said.

It also will apply in the city's libraries, social service offices and police headquarters.

City officials have posted signs on the Municipal Building doors and in elevators notifying employees that the ban will take effect next Tuesday.

by CNB