Magens Bay Board Grapples With Smoking Ban vs. Resident Rights

One board member’s bid to ban smoking at Magens Bay and Smith Bay Park on St. Thomas led to a lengthy discussion that at times turned testy Friday as the board that runs both properties held its monthly meeting at the beach.

Dayle Barry first made the proposal at a town hall meeting the Magens Bay Authority held in January, and revisited the topic on Friday, when he asked his fellow board members what information they require before they can say yea or nay to a ban.

“The carcinogens in the air is sufficient for me but is apparently not sufficient for you,” he said. Maybe they should take a public poll to gauge what residents want, Barry said. Pushback was swift from his fellow board members, however, with chairperson Barbara Petersen admonishing Barry for raising the issue at the town hall without first running it by the board.

“You brought it up at the town hall to the surprise of the board,” she said. “I think it is a little bit premature in how it was addressed. That’s not how we make major policy changes.” As for information the board might need to make an informed decision, Petersen said that was up to Barry to determine, since he raised the issue. Would a ban apply to marijuana as well, or grilling at the sheds the Magens Bay Authority rents out?