NORTHFIELD — After considering the decrease in COVID-19 cases locally, the Selectboard voted Tuesday to remove the mask mandate for town-owned buildings, with mask discretion left up to town employees.
Selectboard members Alex Meisner, Mary Bowen, Bernard “Bernie” Boudreau and Chair Heath Cummings voted in favor of lifting the mandate, while member Barbara “Bee” Jacque abstained. The change went into effect immediately.
The mandate had been put in place in December, with plans to review the need for the policy on a monthly basis.
During discussion Tuesday, Boudreau noted support for removing the mask mandate among town employees.
“I talked with the employees here in the Town Hall and they’re all for removing the mask mandate,” Boudreau said, noting a desire to leave mask wearing up to personal preference.
The Senior Center, he continued, “wants to keep the mask mandate for now,” given it serves residents who are more at-risk of severe illness if they contract COVID-19. He also suggested letting Dickinson Memorial Library set its own policy on mask use.
“The numbers are coming down,” Boudreau said of COVID-19 cases. “A lot of towns are removing it and I think it’s time we do it here in the Town Hall.”
“I think we’re in a much, much better position than we were two weeks ago,” Jacque said, noting the COVID-19 positivity rate in Northfield has dropped from more than 12% to around 4%.
Reach Shelby Ashline at 413-772-0261, ext. 270 or sashline@recorder.com.