Manchester aldermen will consider whether to ban smoking from city parks on Tuesday. They’ll also debate whether to put a question to allow Keno in the city on November’s ballot.
The aldermen are debating whether to make smoking of any kind, including tobacco weed or spice, illegal in Manchester parks.
Mayor Ted Gatsas is the one behind this proposal, which he says is in response to an uptick in spice – a form of synthetic marijuana.
If passed, Manchester will join a handful of other New Hampshire communities including Keene, Swanzy and Troy to pass similar bans.
Aldermen will also be debating whether to move forward with the electronic bingo game Keno. If the board OK’s the idea, voters will be the ones who decide whether to allow the game within the city’s borders this fall.
Several other cities are also currently considering Keno. Officials in Nashua, Dover and Berlin will decide soon, and Franklin has already voted to put it on its local ballot. Money brought in from Keno is designated to help fund full day kindergarten programs across the state.