By Patrick Adrian
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
WINDSOR, Vt. — The Windsor Selectboard compromised on language in a resolution regarding mask-wearing in public buildings, following a two-hour, at times heated community discussion on Saturday.
At a special meeting the selectboard voted 4-1 to approve a non-binding resolution that “recommends” individuals to wear face coverings while inside public buildings to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The initially proposed resolution — modeled on recommendations by the nonpartisan organization The Vermont League of Cities and Towns — “required” mask-wearing, though the resolution did not penalize individuals for noncompliance.
“Because we believe that masking works and believe in our community, we can set it up so that we don’t feel the need to fine each other,” said Selector Amanda Smith, who supported the proposed resolution.
But a majority of the selectboard took issue with the language of “requirement” because it sounded too much like a mandate — at least in spirit.
“I think it is a very harsh and controlling word,” said Selector Jefferey Johnson, who noted that she personally practices mask-wearing but wishes to avoid subjecting town employees to confrontations with individuals who refuse to comply.
The public comments on Saturday were deeply split over the issue of mandatory masking. The majority of speakers attending in-person were vocally opposed to masking, citing reasons that ranged from individual liberty to assertions that masking is ineffective and does more harm to physical and emotional wellbeing.
The majority of speakers advocating for stricter town masking policies participated remotely.
“We know that nothing is perfect but not taking a stand for the safety of our citizens, particularly our most vulnerable, is a lost opportunity,” said Jill Lord during a selectboard meeting on Dec. 11. “It sends the message that we do not care about them,” said Jill Lord, director of Community Health at Mt. Ascutney Hospital.
On Saturday, Lord said Windsor County reported 52 new cases of the novel coronavirus and has recorded 798 new cases in the last 14 days.
In letters to the selectboard, Windsor department heads – Fire Chief Kevin McAllister, Police Chief Jennifer Franks, and Recreation Director James Aldrich — advised against imposing a masking mandate, saying that such policies can cause confrontations and put more strain on the town to enforce.
Selectboard Chair Michael McNaughton reasoned that changing the word “require” was a logical solution, particularly given that a requirement without an enforcement position is not actually a requirement.
Selector Chris Goulet, a strong advocate of public masking, expressed displeasure by the weakened language, which he said defeated the purpose of the state’s recently passed bill authorizing municipalities to create local masking policies.
“We could have done this resolution two or three months ago, without the governor or the legislature,” Goulet said.
Selector Ryan Palmer said he opposed both versions of the resolution, be it a mandate or a “toothless” resolution that achieved no purpose.
“We are literally doing nothing now,” Palmer said. “You want to put up more signs so people who are for masking will wear masks anyway. All we are doing is having an argument over putting up signs that say you should probably wear a mask.”
While still in support of the language “requiring” masks, Smith said she preferred this compromise to not taking any action.
“If a word is the trip-up, change it to ‘recommended,’” Smith said. “But put a sign up and have town employees model that behavior because if we are recommending it, then we ought to be doing it.”
Palmer established that the resolution does not compel town employees to wear masks.
Over the last week, much of the community’s debate over masking turned heavily toward the Windsor Recreation Center, which did not have active signage recommending masking prior to the new resolution.
Town Manager Tom Marsh partly attributed the spotlight on the recreation center to a letter from Superintendent David Baker of the Windsor Southeast Supervisory Union, who was concerned that students who play recreation sports at the town recreation center do not have to wear masks like they do during school-sponsored games or activities.
“It is very difficult for morale and, more importantly, for transmission if the two agencies providing sports are on different pages,” Baker wrote. “We try to keep our students in separate pods and masked at all times. Mixing students at the rec center would be fine if we could maintain masking.”
Marsh told the Eagle Times on Monday that Windsor has followed closely the state law regarding regulations and allowances throughout the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic.
There is no current state requirement to post signs recommending masking, Marsh said, and he does not want to put his two recreation center employees into conflicts or policy enforcement situations, especially when having to supervise large numbers of youth during the center’s open-gym sessions.
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