Waterbury Select Board to discuss local mask requirements
Dec. 3, 2021 | By Lisa ScagliottiUPDATE: This story was updated at 3 p.m. Dec. 3 with a link and more details about Monday’s Select Board agenda.
Following a special session of the legislature late last month and Gov. Phil Scott’s approval of a bill regarding local mask mandates, local officials in cities and towns across Vermont have begun to discuss and in some cases issue their own requirements regarding wearing masks indoors to curb the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
The Waterbury Select Board will do so at its meeting Monday at 7 p.m. to be held in person in the Steele Community Room and online via Zoom.
Waterbury officials join others around the state in considering establishing a uniform requirement within individual communities for the public to wear masks indoors as COVID-19 cases in Vermont have surged to record highs of the pandemic. Many of the highest daily case counts to date occurred in November including Thursday’s reported 604 new cases. Recent weeks have seen hospitalizations climb with hospitals around the state reporting diminishing capacity in intensive care units and decisions to cut back on elective procedures to keep beds free for more urgent care.
Despite the pace of community spread, Gov. Scott and state public health officials have resisted calls to set a statewide indoor mask mandate. They rather recommend that people wear masks, leaving it up to individuals whether to comply and to individual establishments whether to request it of workers and patrons.
Scott and Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine also strongly urge the public to get vaccinated including getting booster shots. Currently, the vaccine is available for people starting with children as young as age 5.
Since the legislature took action just before Thanksgiving, officials in a number of communities across Vermont have begun adopting their own measures. Brattleboro was the first to do so on Nov. 23. Warren's Select Board adopted a measure on Monday and Burlington’s City Council did so on Wednesday.
The Barre City Council this week heeded objections from the public not to institute a mask mandate despite mounting cases there. Barre City leads Washington County in COVID-19 cases with 1,635 logged through Dec. 1, according to Vermont Health Department data. Of those, 967 cases have been reported in the past four months.
Likewise Rutland City Council decided against a mandate while the Rutland town select board adopted one.
In addition to Waterbury, local officials in Waitsfield, Stowe and Montpelier will consider the mask question next week. In presenting Stowe’s draft resolution in board meeting materials, Stowe Town Manager Charles Safford notes that “This resolution relies on voluntary cooperation.”
The agenda for Monday’s meeting has an item to discuss a local mask mandate listed. Chair Mark Frier said the item would be up for consideration. “I certainly think it’s worth the discussion,” Frier said in an email reply to Waterbury Roundabout.
In addition to the mask issue, Monday’s meeting includes a joint session with the trustees of the Edward Farrar Utility District, discussion of how to spend American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, and an item to review graphics for a new anti-racism-inclusion banner to be hung near the municipal offices.
Local cases more than doubled since July
Those entering the Waterbury town offices need to wear a mask if not fully vaccinated. Photo by Lisa Scagliotti
The Waterbury Public Library asks all to wear a mask inside. Photo by Lisa Scagliotti
The select board’s discussion comes as Waterbury’s most recent weekly new case count ticked back up to a level not seen since August. The Vermont Department of Health’s town-by-town data released today shows cumulative case counts through Wednesday, Dec. 1. Waterbury’s total stands at 438 cases, up 24 from the previous week. Waterbury also has not seen that many cases reported in one week since August as the community experienced an increase in virus spread following an outbreak at the summer recreation day camp.
Since the Delta variant’s spread began in late July, Waterbury has seen its COVID cases more than double: in the 17 months from March 2020 through July 2021, the state Health Department logged 189 cases for Waterbury. In the most recent four months, however, Waterbury’s total grew by 249 cases.
Likewise cases in local schools have mirrored the community trend with more cases added in November than earlier in the school year. As of Friday midday, the Harwood Unified Union School District had reported 31 cases since school opened in late August; 19 cases were in November, two so far in December.
Under the bill passed by the legislature, measures adopted by municipal governments would not apply to schools. Schools in the Harwood district opened in August with a mask mandate and there is no plan to change that yet.
Local governments under the new law may issue mask mandates affecting most places open to the public to be in effect for 45 days with the ability for local boards and city councils to renew them every 30 days through April 2022.
Waterbury officials early in the pandemic issued a mask requirement that was rescinded this summer as cases fell and the statewide state of emergency due to the pandemic was also dropped.
Without those directives in place, local practices currently vary. Many local businesses suggest that people wear a mask indoors, but few require masks. Even at the municipal complex, guidelines are not uniform: the Waterbury Public Library currently requires patrons to wear a mask while the municipal offices require masks only for those not fully vaccinated.
Sign inside the entry at the Village Market tells shoppers and staff they decide whether to wear a mask or not. Photo by Lisa Scagliotti
Sign on the door at Stowe Street Cafe clearly tells patrons to wear a mask. Photo by Lisa Scagliotti
At the Village Market downtown, the entryway sign is typical noting that masks are optional for both shoppers and staff. Other establishments are direct in asking customers and staff to do more and the results can be mixed.
In a message on social media last week, Stowe Street Cafe owner Nicole Grenier thanked customers for following the restaurant’s request that all wear masks indoors, noting that most comply with a few negative exceptions.
“We work in a small space, cases are still climbing here, and we have loved ones who are not yet fully vaccinated or boosted, including my young daughter,” she wrote. “We've unfortunately had several new customers lately get angry about our choices and verbally take their frustration out on our staff.”
She pointed out that the cafe’s indoor mask requirement and no inside dining policy are posted online and at the cafe. “Our staff are all kind, courteous people just trying their best to do their jobs well with kindness and compassion,” she said.
In an effort to solicit some input ahead of Monday’s select board meeting, Revitalizing Waterbury sent out a short email survey to local businesses this week asking whether they support a local mask mandate. Economic Development Director Mark Pomilio Jr. said the results would be shared with the board for the meeting.
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Waterbury Roundabout has created a survey form for the community to weigh in on the question and offer comments. Click here to fill out the form and leave feedback before Monday’s select board meeting.
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The Waterbury Select Board’s agenda is posted online at waterburyvt.com including a link to view the meeting via Zoom.