AUGUSTA — City councilors and Board of Education members will take their oaths of office tonight.

Elected in November and being sworn in to new positions for the first time will be Jeffrey Bilodeau, an at-large councilor, as well as Susan Campbell, chairwoman of the Board of Education, Laurence Ringrose, an at-large Board of Education member, and Deborah Towle, Ward 2 Board of Education member.

Councilor Dan Emery was also elected in November but was sworn in Nov. 17, because he was elected to fill the remainder of the at-large council seat previously held by now-Mayor William Stokes.

Re-elected to the council and taking their oaths of office again tonight are Ward 1 Councilor Michael Byron and Ward 4 Councilor Mark O’Brien.

City and school officials take their oaths of office tonight at 7 p.m. in council chambers at Augusta City Center.

A council business meeting follows. Councilors are scheduled to:

* recognize Cony High School students of the month for October and November;

* consider approving Land Use Ordinance changes regarding minimum road frontage requirements on Church Hill Road;

* meet in a closed-door session for negotiations regarding the sale or lease of property; and

* hold a final vote on a proposed new tobacco ordinance which would ban smoking and all other forms of tobacco use on all city property, even outdoors.

The ban would apply to all city parks and athletic fields and, except for designated smoking areas, the outdoor areas surrounding all city buildings. Violators of the proposed new ban could be subject to a $50 fine. Before that, though, city parks staff or police would warn violators to stop, according to Leif Dahlin, the city’s community services director. Dahlin drafted the proposed ordinance after viewing similar ordinances from other municipalities.

All designated outdoor smoking areas at those sites will be at least 20 feet from entryways, windows, vents and doorways, and not in a location that allows smoke to circulate back into the building.

Keith Edwards — 621-5647

kedwards@centralmaine.com

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