Lebanon — City officials say a smoking ban that took effect last month has been a success, reducing smoke outside Lebanon’s public buildings and in its parks.

The ban, which began on July 1, prohibits smoking, chewing tobacco and e-cigarettes in about a dozen public spaces throughout the city. It was approved by the City Council in May after residents complained of having to navigate through smoke to enter public buildings.

“Things have gone amazingly well from what we’ve witnessed and heard from others,” Recreation and Parks Director Paul Coats said on Wednesday.

People are using the designated smoking areas set up when the ban took effect, Coats said, and there’s been a decrease in smoking reported in the last month.

As July 1 approached, the city set aside four public spaces where people could smoke. There’s one at Colburn Park, the Kilton Public Library and two on the Lebanon Mall, according to Coats.

Signs also went up outside City Hall and the library, informing people of the ban and pointing out where the smoking spots are located.

Spaces at other city parks also are a possibility, Coats said, but haven’t been needed yet. There also are plans to create shelters in some areas along with permanent signage, he said.

The ban is in effect for most city-owned properties, including Civic Park, Eldridge Park, Pat Walsh Park, Logan Park, Riverside Community Park and the Lebanon Memorial Pool.

Smoking also is forbidden at the Kilton Public Library and Lebanon Library, as well as parts of Colburn Park, the Lebanon Mall, Fellows Hill Park and the Storrs Hill Ski Area. Although they’re not city-owned, the Lebanon Junior High School fields and Elks Field also are smoke-free during city-sponsored events.

Prior to the ban, people reported the most problems outside City Hall and the Kilton Public Library. The two areas both are located near Advance Transit bus stops and within the city’s downtown hubs, drawing large numbers of smokers.

But it appears things have changed, according to Amy Lappin, deputy director of Lebanon Public Libraries.

“The library’s experience has been very positive. As far as I know, we have not had to ask anyone not to smoke in front of the library,” Lappin said on Wednesday.

At the Kilton Public Library, smokers appear to have moved to a designated location behind the Advance Transit stop, Lappin said, adding there have been few complaints since the ban took effect.

“People seem to be very respectful of it,” she said.

Coats said city employees have had to remind smokers of the ban on a few occasions, adding most people either put out their cigarettes or move to a designated spot.

When the City Council adopted the ban, they also set fines for anyone found in violation. Those caught smoking could face a $25 fine for a first offense, $50 for a second offense and $100 for those after.

However, Lebanon Police Chief Richard Mello said the ban appears to be going “surprisingly well,” adding the designated smoking areas allow people the option to smoke in public spaces without bothering others.

“I don’t think we’ve issued any citations yet,” Mello said. “It’s actually worked out really well, and there’s a lot of self-compliance.”

The ban also has helped keep sidewalks free of cigarette butts, Advance Transit driver Fred Duefield said.

As he waited outside the library on Wednesday, Duefield pointed out how clean the bus stop appears.

Before the ban, he said, litter was a common occurrence.

Duefield also has noticed more people putting out their cigarettes before approaching the bus, meaning less smoke gets on board.

“I do like the fact that they’re not bringing the second-hand smoke at this bus stop into the bus anymore,” he said. “Once it gets in here, it’s hard to get out.”

Advance Transit Executive Director Van Chesnut said he hasn’t heard a lot of talk about the ban but has noticed fewer cigarette butts and smokers outside Lebanon City Hall.

He said the organization still is hoping to work with the city to install permanent structures at designated smoking spots.

The transit company also is working with Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital to install signs on buses informing people of cessation programs.

People waiting at the Advance Transit stop outside the library said they’ve also seen a change for the better since the ban took effect.

“I think it’s really great because there’s not a huge amount of people here smoking,” said Denise Conway, who was waiting for a bus on Wednesday afternoon.

“I don’t go home stinking like cigarettes every time I take the bus,” she said.

Conway, who said she enjoys an occasional cigarette, said smokers should have the right to smoke in public. But, she said, the ban allows for that in specific places away from others who could be bothered by the activity.

“I don’t think it’s too hard to give up a cigarette while you wait for the bus,” she said.

Tom Atwood, who also was waiting for a bus outside the library, said he’s witnessed also a change in the last month.

“Before, there were all kinds of people all over the place down in front of the library smoking and you’d trip over them,” he said.

But now there are much fewer people smoking along Main Street, he said. “It’s gotten a lot better.”

People can find more information about the smoking ban on Lebanon’s website at bit.ly/2uqgkSF.

Tim Camerato can be reached at tcamerato@vnews.com or 603-727-3223.