Finding a good place to light up will be more difficult if Toronto expands the city's smoking ban.Toronto the Good is already a bad place to be a smoker, and a proposal to further limit acceptable smoking areas could soon make it even worse.

The city's board of health announced on Monday that it will consider a proposal to further expand its smoking ban next year.

The Canadian Press reports that the proposal would prohibit smoking on uncovered restaurant patios, public sports fields, and areas near hospitals, bus stops, public squares and doorways.

These, combined with current off-limit areas, would leave Toronto smokers huddled near underpasses, in provincially-registered smoking areas and, perhaps, bobbing along the Don River in kayaks.

Toronto already has a bylaw prohibiting smoke from playground areas, wading pools and splash pads, but the meat of the city's smoking limitations come from province.

[ Related: California city bans smoking in multi-family homes ]

The Smoke-free Ontario Act prohibits smoking in or near private schools, common areas in condo and apartment buildings, nurseries and day cares, sports arenas and any other enclosed public space or workplace.

The Act was updated in 2010 to include partially- and fully-covered restaurant and bar patios, the thinking at the time being, "Let the smokers sit in the open air where they won't bother anyone."

According to CTV News, Dr. David McKeown, Toronto's chief medical officer, said extending the ban to more public spaces would limit smoking's negative effect on society.

"Smoking in public places does two things: it exposes non-smokers to second-hand smoke which we know has a negative impact on health," McKeowan said. "Secondly it normalizes smoking. When young people see a crowd of people enjoying themselves it reinforces the notion that smoking is OK."

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Toronto mulls expanding smoking ban in public spaces

Q. Our condominium is about 30 years old. Some of the first floor units have installed small patios. I read in your column that owners cannot use common ground for their own. But over the years our board has looked the other way and ignored such patios. Recently, a new owner complained about the construction of one such patio because her neighbors cooking smoke was coming into her unit. She questioned why other units were allowed to have their own patios since the documents do not allow private use of the common grounds. The directors took an attitude of leave us alone and live with the smoke.

Since the board is neglectful in enforcing the rules, we are beginning to have a patchwork of violations. Many homes have patio furniture, large flower pots, grills and smokers, and some have awnings and umbrellas. The board takes a do as you please attitude. Since the owners do not want the job and problems, most of the violators continue to break the rules. I ask why these people get reelected.

R.W., Clearwater

Until your owners understand that they have an obligation to others in the community to serve, you are going to have the same problems. Someone in your condominium must step up and begin to try to organize and convince others to take on the duties by becoming candidates or you will never recover. Some must say that they are not happy with the current board and they want to go back to the basics and start enforcing the rules. Maybe that person is you. Why not start knocking on doors and ask neighbors if they are happy with the current boards actions? The greatest privilege members have is to become a candidate and serve their fellow neighbors. Yes, it is a duty but it is a privilege.

Q. Our condominium board has raised some fees, but not all. When we ask why it is changing some and not others, members say that the old fee schedule was not fair. They said the larger units are worth more and use up more of the condominiums services. They say units that are worth more since they are larger should shoulder more of the responsibility to pay more. We now have a class warfare pitting smaller units against larger units. It has divided our condominium and we do not know how to correct the issue. What is wrong with our board and members?

G.G., Orlando

The association must be operated by the rule established in the documents and statutes. The board does not have the right to just change the budget collection fee schedule because they appeal to one group and not the other. Fee payment percentages are published in the documents, as in other official papers. I assume that there are more smaller than larger units and this board is seeking to be reelected by catering to the majority. However, this action is improper and you will have to either file a written complaint with the state or sue the board. It is a difficult problem, but you must take action to have your rights. A majority cannot rule the few. Q. Our newly elected board has appointed two unit owners as finance officers to consult with the board. They were not elected as directors. Is this appointment proper and if one or two of the directors meets with these officers, is it considered a board meeting?

R.Z., Tampa

The board is allowed to seek advice from professionals or non-professionals. They can hire outside guidance or seek volunteers from the members to provide oversight and advice. Even if they were not elected as directors, they can be named as an officer, vice officer or a committee member. Directors may meet with the appointed officers and it would not be considered a board meeting as long as a majority of the elected directors are not in attendance. At a board meeting these appointees do not have a vote, but can provide reports or advice to the directors. These appointed or contracted people can even be compensated.

Write to Condo Line, Richard White, 6039 Cypress Gardens Blvd., #201, Winter Haven, FL 33884-4115., or e-mail CAMquestion@cfl.rr.com. Include name and city.

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Board ignores illegal patios

Durango City Council on Tuesday was told to butt out of bar owners livelihood with an excessive outdoor smoking ban in most public outdoor areas, such as saloon patios.

The busy work legislation should be edited to remove all references to private businesses, said Phil Roth, the owner of the 8th Avenue Tavern who has invested in a screened-in patio that has become a sanctuary for smokers.

Roth counted three bars and seven alcohol-serving restaurants with outdoor patios in Durango.

Billy Faucheux, a veteran of Vietnam era who doesnt smoke, said he was worried about the loss of individual liberties.

Where do they stop? Faucheux said in an interview. I dont want to see peoples rights taken away from them. Its as simple as that.

The council agreed with Roth and fellow bar owners, deciding to separate bar and restaurant patios from the ban while keeping in place restrictions on smoking on city-owned property and public areas such as parks, playgrounds, bus stops, the Animas River Trail and the lawn outside the Durango Community Recreation Center.

The council also tweaked the ordinance language to exclude the Hillcrest Golf Course and the citys playing fields at Fort Lewis College.

The ban will be enforced with fines of $100 for first offense and as much as $200 to $300 fines for consecutive offenses.

A formal vote was not taken because City Attorney David Smith must still write the ordinance with the revisions. It will return in two weeks.

Mayor Doug Lyon said he would have exempted the river trail from the ban because people on the trail are more likely to be exposed to smoke from the train than from secondhand cigarette smoke.

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City butts out of bar, eatery patios

MONROE, Ohio, Oct. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Deceuninck North America, a leading designer and manufacturer of high-quality systems for windows, doors, and outdoor living, has contributed to the restoration of the decks and patios at Jean Bonnet Tavern, an historic tavern and inn in Bedford, Pa. Keystone Vinyl, a company specializing in the installation of decking, vinyl railing systems and fencing, installed nearly 1,200 sq. ft. of Deceuninck's Clubhouse PVC Decking on guest room balconies and the back porch that serves as part of the tavern's outdoor dining area.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110214/NE47651LOGO )

"The Jean Bonnet Tavern dates back to the late 18th century, which means any renovations had to maintain the tavern's authentic appearance," said Filip Geeraert, president and CEO of Deceuninck North America. "With its deep-grain embossing and wide variety of colors, Clubhouse PVC Decking was the optimal solution for a project such as this. The decks are appealing to the eye, they match well with the look of the rest of the structure, and they are now stronger and more durable than ever before."

Clubhouse Decking is 100-percent PVC and contains no wood or wood fillers. It is formulated to be up to 25-percent lighter than most wood and composites, and its denser cell structure offers superior strength and solid underfoot feel with Deceuninck's Korelite technology. Korelite also helps to keep moisture out and reduces the opportunity for degradation from mold, mildew, freezing and thawing.

SunShield technology helps protect Clubhouse from the harsh effects of the sun, including UV resistance and fade protection, resistance to cracking and brittleness, and surface degradation. Clubhouse Decking is also 100-percent recyclable and does not require painting or staining. It features a limited lifetime warranty with 25-year fade and stain protection backed by Deceuninck.

"Clubhouse by Deceuninck was the perfect choice for this project," said Josh Weyandt, partner of Keystone Vinyl. "Its warranty can't be matched. It's practically maintenance free. Clubhouse also retains its color and is slip- and scratch-resistant. All of this was important to the Jean Bonnet."

The tavern chose Clubhouse Decking in cobblestone to create a stacked stone appearance to match the look and feel of the historic structure.

About Deceuninck

Deceuninck North America, LLC is part of the Deceuninck Group, an integrated global organization specializing in compounding, tool fabrication, design, development, extrusion, finishing of PVC-U window systems and composite applications for the building industry. The company is active in more than 75 countries, has 35 subsidiaries (production and/or sales), and is supported by nearly 3,000 personnel worldwide. In 2011, Deceuninck Group achieved consolidated sales of 536.1 million Euros worldwide (approximately $670 million USD). Deceuninck North America encompasses fully-integrated design, compounding, tooling, extrusion and quality assurance disciplines for the production of vinyl window and door systems and composite applications for the building industry at its corporate headquarters in Monroe, Ohio. For more information, please visit http://www.deceuninck-americas.com.

Contact: Jeff Donaldson For Deceuninck North America 412-642-7700 jeff.donaldson@elias-savion.com

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Deceuninck North America's Clubhouse PVC Decking Revitalizes the Porches on an Historic Tavern in Bedford, Pa.

Torontos Board of Health will decide next week whether to explore a further clamping down on smoking in public places, including patios and sports fields.

On Monday the board will consider whether the citys medical officer of health should consult with key stakeholders on extending smoking restrictions. If the board gives its assent, a decision on further limits would not come before next year.

In 2009, the City surpassed the level of protection offered by the [Smoke-Free Ontario Act] by banning smoking near City playgrounds, wading pools, splash pads and in farms and zoos operated by Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division, the board of health notes in an agenda for next weeks meeting. Now, there is strong public interest and support for Toronto to join other Ontario municipalities in expanding [second-hand-smoke] protection to other outdoor spaces, including public building entranceways, bar and restaurant patios and hospital grounds.

A report cited by the board notes that adult smoking rates have dropped since 2001, but that about one in five young adults are still smoking.

Experts agree that tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality worldwide, including in Canada and that tobacco use and [second-hand-smoke] exposure remain important public health concerns, the report states.

In 2011 the board of health sought advice on ways to control tobacco use through expansions to existing smoke-free by-laws.

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City to consider expanding smoking bans in public places

Torontos Board of Health will decide next week whether to hold public consultations on extending the citys ban on places where you can smoke.

On Monday, the board will look at recommendations to ban smoking on uncovered restaurant patios, in public building entranceways, on hospital grounds and on sports fields.

If the board approves public consultations, a final decision on extending the ban could come next year.

The suggestion for extended smoking bans comes from a Toronto Public Health report released last month that urges action to prevent residents from second-hand smoke exposure.

Things have certainly moved forward in public opinion, and we now have a public that is much more sensitive to second-hand cigarette smoke, said Coun. John Filion, who chairs the board of health.

Its time to move the yardstick forward.

Despite existing regulations, 15 per cent of adult non-smokers in Toronto were exposed to second-hand smoke every day or almost every day, according to a 2010 survey cited in the report.

Smoking is already prohibited in indoor workplaces and public spaces, as well as within nine metres of playgrounds, wading pools and city zoos and farms.

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Smoking ban proposed for Toronto restaurant patios, sports fields

ST. PETERSBURG For about two years, the Mystery Monkey of Tampa Bay has dropped by unannounced at several homes near Lake Maggiore.

He ate handouts, napped on patios, looked through windows. The neighbors and the monkey learned to get along.

But that sentiment changed Monday when the monkey bit a 60-year-old woman.

Now, most residents say, he needs to go.

"I hate to say this, but it was bound to happen," Jeffrey Seilbach said.

Wildlife officials think the biting incident occurred because some neighbors fed the monkey.

"When people choose to feed wildlife in their neighborhood, very often it's the neighbors that end up suffering the consequences," said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Gary Morse.

The monkey resides in an area of tall trees and overgrown bushes near Country Club Way S. When the branches rattle loudly, neighbors know he's there.

He also likes back yards.

At Seilbach's home, the monkey has climbed a tree and broken a screen around the pool. Seilbach won't take his cat outside.

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Many residents say Mystery Monkey needs to go

The city wants to to make it easier for food trucks and sidewalk patios to operate in Edmonton.

Saylish Haas, a co-owner of The Next Act Pub and The Act food truck, says she would to move her truck more frequently and stay open past 11 p.m. to serve the crowds at closing time things that aren't allowed under current regulations.

Haas is encouraged by how the city is open to changing the rules, which could take effect next spring.

"We'll all meet and sit down and figure out what we want to do," she said. "Hopefully, we'll end up getting to move forward and be able to relocate and have a little bit more options that are siding towards the street vendors."

The rule change was prompted by a conflict earlier this year between the Drift food truck and a nearby sandwich shop.

Drift owners Nevin and Kara Fenske were asked to move from their location at 100th Avenue and 108th Street because the nearby Grandma Lee sandwich shop complained they were taking away business.

The Fenskes successfully appealed the city's order and city administration was asked to clarify the rules for food trucks

Food truck regulations aren't the only rules under review. The city plans to approach the Alberta Liquor and Gaming Commission about changing the rules for serving alcohol on outdoor patios.

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City wants to ease rules for food trucks and patios

NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) -

A local pool company that's been the subject of dozens of complaints had its building license officially suspended Thursday.

Some 30 families said Premier Pools and Patios didn't provide efficient services.

In some cases, the company is accused of walking away from an unfinished project. In other cases, clients said the company built a pool that had to be redone and damaged property.

Those homeowners want the state board of licensing contractors to take away Premier's license, so they can never build in Tennessee again.

"I do not have a finished working pool. It's been almost a year, and a lot of things need to be redone," said a homeowner named Sam, who didn't want his last name used.

Sam is one of 16 who have filed an official complaint with the state.

The owner of the company, Anna Shanks, did not show up Thursday for a license suspension hearing. She listened in by conference call from her attorney's Nashville office.

Premier Pool attorney Steve Lefkovitz agreed to have his client surrender its building license as long as the word revocation was left out.

"Revocation does have connotations of wrongdoing," said Lefkovitz.

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Troubled pool company has license suspended

The 49-unit Clearview Apartments at 4000 North Main St. sold this summer for $3,420,000, nearly $1 million more than the last sale five years ago, according to city assessors.

The North End property consists of two three-level buildings of mostly two bedrooms and one bath, with air conditioning and patios or balconies overlooking the Taunton River.

The property was built in 1989 on 1 acres.

Tag Fall River Real Estate III LLC in Boston, a division of Waldorf Capital Management in Providence, took ownership on Aug. 31 from Clearwater Investments LLC, assessors said.

NAI Hunneman, the Boston firm representing the city for development of the new bio park, represented Clearwater, according to Banker & Tradesman.

The last sale to Clearwater Investments on Dec. 31, 2007 was for $2.5 million, following sales in 1999 for $1.89 million and in 1996 for $1.35 million, city records show.

The $3.42 million sale price would average roughly $70,000 per unit.

The property is assessed for $2.8 million, nearly $2 million for the buildings and the remainder for the land in an area of many apartment buildings and condominiums.

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Clearview Apartments in Fall River trades hands for $3.4 million