Mass. Meeting to Have Scent-Free Zones

Ledger-Enquirer.com ^ | Mon, Apr. 28, 2003 | AP

[fight_truth_decay]

SHUTESBURY, Mass. -People who attend Shutesbury's upcoming town meeting will be segregated by scent to avoid disturbing those hypersensitive to chemicals and odors.

Splitting the meeting hall into three sections May 3 is part of a two-year-long effort that also has produced "fragrance-free" hours at the library.

One section of the room will be reserved for people who never use perfumes or scented deodorants, detergents or other products. The second will be for those who sometimes wear fragrance but not on the day of the meeting, and the third will be labeled, "Seating for those who forgot and used cologne and perfume."

Using fragrances in public is similar to smoking, said Town Administrator David Ames, who is also responsible for making the town compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. He said the Massachusetts Office of Disabilities recommended establishing the fragrance zones.

A local survey found that nine of 52 respondents identified themselves as afflicted with multiple chemical sensitivities syndrome, although the National Institute of Environmental Health Science says the very existence of such an affliction is in dispute.

[fight_truth_decay]

More:

Shutebury's effort to become fragrance-free began two years ago. The town also has fragrance-free hours at a local library when patrons are not allowed to wear fragrances and the laser printer is turned off.

Ziporah Hildebrandt, chairwoman of the town's ADA Committee, says a fragrance-free environment is a civil rights issue. She says she herself can't go to the meeting, because she has the disorder and the school building has odors that bother her.

``No one who wants to go should be unable to attend, for whatever reason,'' Hildebrandt said.

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Will MCSS sufferers be entitled to a 'Handicap' plate on their cars? ;)

[Djarum]

Will breaking wind in one of these protected zones be a misdemeanor or felony?

[Keith in Iowa]

>>One section of the room will be reserved for people who never use perfumes or scented deodorants, detergents or other products...

There's a joke about the French in there somewhere...

[billorites]

This compels me to break wind.

[catpuppy]

Absolute madness from the Ted Kennedy/John Kerry/Barney Frank state. Figures.

[Marie]

Smokers every where are holding up huge signs saying...

I TOLD YOU SO!

[fight_truth_decay]

Hildebrandt has posted 'What is Fragrance Free, anyway?'on Our Town's home page

[TheBattman]

You hit the button on the head, whether you meant to or not.

My sinuses and throat close up when I am around strong perfume/after shave/cologne as well as cigarette smoke, but I don't go around trying to force the government to ban those things, do I? I choose to avoid the perfume section of department stores and stay away from heavy concentrations of smokers - that's my choice to make.

Most if not all libraries already don't allow smoking in the building. What's next, bar people with BO? I swear that if anything offends my sinuses more than strong perfume, it's bad BO. I don't see any provision in that law barring people with bad Body Odor. As you mentioned - what about passing gas. That is very offensive to many people.

Of course, the way I look at it - if someone feels the need to dump half a bottle of the strongest smelling perfume on themselves to go out in public, they must have other issues to take care of.

[annyokie]

I've heard it all, now.

[F.J. Mitchell]

"There's a joke about the French in there somewhere." THat group is the French, and as we have finally learned of late-The French are the joke.

[Khepera]

A big bottle of perfume accidently spilled on the carpet will solve this problem.

[F.J. Mitchell]

"I've heard it all, now."

Wanna bet?

[fifteendogs]

Everyone attending meetings will be required to strip naked and shower, using lye soap prior to entering the meeting hall. If this doesn't work, the meeting place will be relocatd to the local lake where everyone will be forced to strip naked prior to the start of the meeting. Passing gas or belching will not be allowed.

[fight_truth_decay]

This was a topic on Howie Carr talk radio out of Boston this afternoon. Questions:

Will there have to be separate bathrooms?
What if you had a beer before you came?
What if your nose doesn't work and you can't tell if you smell?
What if you were in Filene's (walked by the cosmetic counter) before the meeting?
What if you have a phobia to taking showers?

[Weimdog]

People used to laugh when I told them that after they ban smoking they'll be banning perfume.

Not so funny anymore.

[annyokie]

I'm not a betting girl, but no doubt you're right. What next? No carpet refreshers at home or incense at High Mass?

It makes you want to weep.

[Sloth]

She says she herself can't go to the meeting, because she has the disorder and the school building has odors that bother her."`No one who wants to go should be unable to attend, for whatever reason,'' Hildebrandt said.

Is someone preventing this woman frompurchasing SCBA gear?

[fight_truth_decay]

Hey !! we are big Baked Bean eaters in the NE ! As long as the meeting is not on Saturday night.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

This compels me to break wind.

"Mind if I smoke?"

"No. Mind if I fart?"

[Focault's Pendulum]

``No one who wants to go should be unable to attend, for whatever reason,'' Hildebrandt said. /I>

Once again..our educated Enlgish educators at work.