Mask mandates are still being debated around the state. There might be a shift in who will be able to require mandates. Gov. Phil Scott is calling the state legislature in for a special session on Monday. They’ll consider legislation allowing municipalities to adopt their own mask mandates.The governor says the mandates that towns and cities could implement would be limited to indoor locations, other than private homes. “I’m very grateful to the governor for making this decision to give some authority back to the municipalities through the legislature,” Ian Goodnow, Vice-Chair Brattleboro select board, said.Brattleboro will be discussing the idea at a meeting on Tuesday. “A little frustrated because the town of Brattleboro voted back in august to implement a mask mandate as we were watching case numbers rise,” Goodnow said.The state told the Brattleboro Selectboard back in August they couldn’t implement a mandate. The question is will other towns require masks“But I think we’re certainly going to encourage it whether or not we mandate it, is the question,” Chad Whitehead, St. Johnsbury town manager, said.Some Vermonters think towns should be allowed to require face coverings.“If the town and people in the town feel that we need to wear masks, for the safety of everybody then it’s the way to go,” Jeff Neilsen, a Norwich resident, said.“If they want to enforce it they should be able to,” Deborah Hopping, a White River Junction resident, said.But not everyone likes the idea.“It’s a violation of people’s rights. And I believe voluntary compliance is better than a mask mandate,” Deborah Wright, Bellows Falls Village president, said.Some businesses already require masks. “Business can do it if they like, it’s their business,” Wright said.Dan and Whit’s owner Dan Fraser is excited at the prospect of having a local mandate.“Since the order has been lifted, it’s been much more difficult to enforce anything because there is nothing we can refer to, so we just let people do what they want,” Fraser said.He says a mandate could alleviate some of the stresses on induvial businesses that want their shoppers to mask up. The question of how effective individual mandates is still to be seen.
Mask mandates are still being debated around the state. There might be a shift in who will be able to require mandates. Gov. Phil Scott is calling the state legislature in for a special session on Monday. They’ll consider legislation allowing municipalities to adopt their own mask mandates.
The governor says the mandates that towns and cities could implement would be limited to indoor locations, other than private homes.
Advertisement
“I’m very grateful to the governor for making this decision to give some authority back to the municipalities through the legislature,” Ian Goodnow, Vice-Chair Brattleboro select board, said.
Brattleboro will be discussing the idea at a meeting on Tuesday.
“A little frustrated because the town of Brattleboro voted back in august to implement a mask mandate as we were watching case numbers rise,” Goodnow said.
The state told the Brattleboro Selectboard back in August they couldn’t implement a mandate. The question is will other towns require masks
“But I think we’re certainly going to encourage it whether or not we mandate it, is the question,” Chad Whitehead, St. Johnsbury town manager, said.
Some Vermonters think towns should be allowed to require face coverings.
“If the town and people in the town feel that we need to wear masks, for the safety of everybody then it’s the way to go,” Jeff Neilsen, a Norwich resident, said.
“If they want to enforce it they should be able to,” Deborah Hopping, a White River Junction resident, said.
But not everyone likes the idea.
“It’s a violation of people’s rights. And I believe voluntary compliance is better than a mask mandate,” Deborah Wright, Bellows Falls Village president, said.
Some businesses already require masks.
“Business can do it if they like, it’s their business,” Wright said.
Dan and Whit’s owner Dan Fraser is excited at the prospect of having a local mandate.
“Since the order has been lifted, it’s been much more difficult to enforce anything because there is nothing we can refer to, so we just let people do what they want,” Fraser said.
He says a mandate could alleviate some of the stresses on induvial businesses that want their shoppers to mask up.
The question of how effective individual mandates is still to be seen.
