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Schedules hearings on paraphernalia, women's commission
By SUZETTE PORTER
Article published on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2006 |
CLEARWATER – Residents and business owners will get their say at the Aug. 22 Board of County Commissioners meeting on a proposed new ordinance restricting the sale of items identified as drug paraphernalia.
The ordinance is the result of work by the Drug Paraphernalia Abatement Task Force. The ordinance would restrict the sale of items considered paraphernalia to minors and lower the standard for “reasonable” knowledge of how the products would be used by consumers.
According to the task force, identified items such as pipes, whippets, THC test kits and more are used for ingestion of drugs. Business owners who sell the identified items say that the items also can be used for legitimate purposes.
The hearing will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the assembly room of the Pinellas County Courthouse, 315 Court St., Clearwater.
Commission for Women proposed
Commissioners also approved, 4-2, at its Aug. 1 meeting the scheduling of an Aug. 22 public hearing on a proposed ordinance establishing a Pinellas County Commission for Women.
Commissioners Susan Latvala and Karen Seel voted no. Commissioner Bob Stewart was absent.
Information from the county communication department said that the purpose of the women’s commission would be to inform the community about issues facing women and families and advocate for legislative action.
Commissioner Ronnie Duncan asked if additional information about the proposed commission could be available by Aug. 22. County Administrator Steve Spratt said a review of the group’s proposed duties and powers was ongoing, as well as an attempt to find out the intended “depth of work.” Staff also was looking to see what services already were available to provide what the commission proposed to do.
“We need to establish that there’s a need,” Latvala said. “Are women not being treated fairly? Is there a need in the community?”
She said agencies currently existed that addressed the needs of all people.
“This is 2006. Do women still need to be set aside?” Latvala asked.
Commissioner John Morroni said the idea for the women’s commission had come from one of his constituents, Sandy Oestreich, president of the Equal Rights Alliance Inc.
Commissioner Calvin Harris said he supported a dialogue about the need.
“We shouldn’t be frightened to hear,” he said. “If there’s no need to go forward then we won’t go forward. We’re going to have a meeting anyway.
“A constituent has come forward with a concern. But, we decide if it’s a concern and what we do about it.”
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Article published on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2006
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