"We ought to do what is right for the workers and the city and vote for (the smoking ban)." — Mayor Jolly "It's not our place to decide if they smoke or not." — City Councilman Dennis Ramsey City employees will continue to light up in city-owned vehicles — if a passenger in the car also is a smoker.

The city's Personnel Committee last month approved a ban on smoking in city-owned vehicles, but at Monday's council meeting, councilman Wayne Ramsey amended the motion to snuff out smoking only if the occupant is a nonsmoker.

"If one person is in the car smoking that's fine," Ramsey said. "If two people are in car and if one doesn't smoke, you can't smoke."

Council members Dennis Ramsey, Boone Peeler and Billy Love supported Wayne Ramsey's amendment. Gaffney Mayor Henry Jolly and council members Tom Reid and Bernard Smith favored a total ban.

Jolly expressed frustration with council's recent habit of gutting committee recommendations.

"We ought to do what is right for the workers and the city and vote for (the smoking ban)," Jolly said.

Jolly argued the smoking ban would have health benefits for employees and increase the re-sale value of city vehicles.

Dennis Ramsey, though, said council shouldn't be regulating behavior.

"It's not our place to decide if they smoke or not," he said.