The Slatington council approved advertising an ordinance that would prohibit smoke or vape shops in certain areas of the borough.

Council had been talking about an ordinance to restrict the locations where smoke and vape shops can be located, but didn’t make any decisions. Then came some letters from Brownie Troop 6365 to council asking them to support such an ordinance. That was enough to push them into action.

Borough manager Dan Stevens said if the ordinance is passed, it prohibits smoke and vape shops from opening 1,500 feet apart from each other, and 1,500 feet from a school church, library, public park, medical health building, child care center and residential area. Smoke and vape shops could open in the borough’s industrial district.

Current smoke and vape shops in the borough are grandfathered in, but council member Jeffrey Hausman pointed out that if a current smoke or vape shop closes and a different type of business moves into the building, then that building cannot be used as a smoke or vape shop again.

“It’s a victory for the Brownies,” Stevens said.

Council is expected to vote on the ordinance at its meeting in December.

In other business, council member Hausman gave an update on the South Street CDBG project and Chestnut Alley paving. He said South Street is complete. Stevens reported that the crews were supposed to start to work on Chestnut Alley on Monday, but couldn’t because of the gas company was doing some work.