Smoking At Norwood School Committee Meetings-This Day In Norwood History-August 22, 1980

A smoking truce by Norwood panel

The four smokers of the seven-member Norwood School Committee have quietly cleared the air — at least until the next committee meeting — in the group’s friendly tussle over banning or reducing smoking at committee sessions.

Without formal discussion or mandate. the committee’s four smokers refrained from puffing on cigarettes during the 2 1/2 hour meeting Wednesday night in consideration of fellow committee member, Charles C. Saraca.

Saraca, 62, strode into last week’s committee meeting with a small, electric air filter and a hand-held fan to rid the committee’s meeting place — a cramped classroom — of smoke.

Saraca. who has had an operation due to emphysema, said his medical problems were aggravated by exhaled smoke during committee sessions at the George Willett Elementary School.

“There wasn’t one cloud of smoke in that room for two and one-half hours.” Saraca said proudly yesterday. “I was pleasantly surprised and very happy that they didn’t smoke, (a decision they made) on their own. I came in with the fan. turned on the machine and after about 15 minutes. I noticed no one was smoking.”

Saraca said after after an hour and 45 minutes, committee smokers Rudith Berkowitz, Richard D. Joseph, Joan H. Cuff, and William F. Egan took a five-minute smoke break in the hallway.

Wednesday night, Berkowitz said the smokers could simply take smoke breaks in the hallway during future meetings to alleviate any discomfort for Saraca.

Saraca said he appreciated the smokers’ efforts to refrain from puffing cigarettes during an intense meeting. such as Wednesday night’s session in which the committee considered transportation contract bids.

He said he had smoked for 35 years before surgery for emphysema on his right lung 3 1/2 years ago, an operation that reduced his breathing capacity by about 60 percent. “They’re always smoking and not to do it last night required some sacrifice and I commend them for it.” Saraca said.

“I think they accomplished something. . .it’s a sacrifice to do that.”

He said he doubted the committee would buy a larger air filter, a proposition the committee considered at last week’s meeting.

During the committee’s first meeting in the Willett classroom, on July 23, Saraca coughed, wheezed, and had inflamed eyes at the session’s end. The committee’s previous meeting room in the former school administration building was larger and exhaled smoke had plenty of space to circulate in, unlike the current meeting room.

But Egan said he probably would smoke during the committee’s next session.

“The ventilation that first night was not that good and the smoke did hang in there.” Egan said. “But the ventilation was fixed. I think it’s something that’s gotten too far out of hand.”

By Phil Garcia – Globe Correspondent

(All articles originally published in the Norwood Messenger)