AUBURN – Puffing on the courthouse steps and grounds could soon become taboo after nonsmokers complained about having to wade through smokers to enter county buildings.

The County Commission took the issue under advisement but took no action Tuesday. Commissioners are expected to revisit the matter soon.

At issue is smoking by groups of as many as 15 people near entrances to the courthouse and jail and on the courthouse steps. Some people have complained to county officials about having to breathe secondhand smoke when entering facilities and about smoke entering the courthouse through open windows.

Currently, there are no designated smoking areas for county employees, Superior Court witnesses and jurors. No specific smoking policy exists except that there is no smoking inside county buildings, a policy that has been in effect for nearly two decades. Inmates have been prohibited from smoking in the Androscoggin County Jail since the new jail facility opened in 1990.

The commission also discussed a possible ban on smokeless tobacco wrought by complaints of empty soda bottles containing spit with tobacco residue left in public view and spit running down the sides of trash cans.

“It’s gross to walk into a public building and see a bottle with juice spit. That needs to be taken care of immediately,” said commission Chairman Elmer Berry.

Commissioner Patience Johnson said she has seen sheriff’s officers smoking inside cruisers, an act that is currently prohibited by policy of the Sheriff’s Department.

Capt. Raymond Lafrance said he would write up any department employee caught smoking in a cruiser. “That’s a strong policy, and I’m very strict on that policy,” Lafrance said.

“I think the situation is easily solved,” said the jail administrator, Capt. John Lebel, by banning all tobacco use on the grounds of county buildings. However, Lebel said he doesn’t like having to resort to a policy that strict. It would damage employee morale. While he said he supports a tobacco ban, another option he offered was to build shelters for the courthouse and jail.

“Within the jail, we have no tobacco products allowed. No chewing tobacco is allowed,” Lebel said.

The importation of marijuana used to be the biggest smuggling problem county jails faced. Not anymore, according to Lebel. “It’s cigarettes. Tobacco, tobacco, tobacco. The smuggling is unbelievable. They can get cigarettes for $50,” he said.

Questions arose of potential problems from a ban on smoking on county property with businesses, a church and a day-care center located near the courthouse and jail.

“You’re creating a whole new set of problems,” said County Clerk Patricia Fournier. “The employees have a right to smoke and they’ve got to go someplace else to smoke.”

“It’s a no-win situation,” said Sheriff Ronald Gagnon.