The Richmond Common Council will be having a public hearing on its proposed Smoking Ordinance on Jan. 14. It will prohibit smoking in every place of employment within Richmond, and it prohibits smoking within 25 feet of an entrance. It also requires employers to adopt a no-smoking policy and to notify all employees of this policy and to post signs about it.

A public hearing will be held on January 14 at 7:00pm in the Richmond City Council Chamber to further discuss this proposal. You are entitled to attend the meeting. The Common Council is taking this opportunity to hear from you.

The ordinance will not be enacted on January 14, because it will require a second reading at a subsequent Council meeting. If enacted, the ordinance would take effect 30 days after passage.

You can read Proposed Ordinance 087-2007 on the City of Richmond website.

Richmond City Council Candidate Josh Williams will host a Town Meeting Saturday, April 14, to discuss issues affecting the community. Williams is running in the May 8th Democratic primary for an at-large seat on the Richmond Common Council.

The Town Meeting will convene at 11:00 a.m on Saturday at Charlie's Coffee Bar and Gallery, 416 North 10th Street, Richmond.

Williams, age 29, is a student at Indiana University East. He has twice been presented the "Disabled Student of the Year" award by the Community Council on Disability Awareness (CCDA). He is running "to be voice in our community that may not always be heard."  continue reading »