NORTHFIELD — After a debate between board members, the Selectboard voted 3-1 Tuesday to enact a mask mandate in town-owned buildings, subject to monthly review.
Selectboard members Alex Meisner, Barbara “Bee” Jacque and Bernard “Bernie” Boudreau voted in favor of the mandate. Mary Bowen was absent. Chair Heath Cummings voted against the mandate, on the premise that residents be allowed to make their own choices on mask wearing.
“I will set a good example,” said Cummings, as he reached for his mask following the vote Tuesday night.
The discussion was prompted by Town Administrator Andrea Llamas relaying to the Selectboard the updated guidance from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, a branch of the Department of Public Health, which once again advised indoor masks for all individuals, regardless of vaccination status.
“I did do a poll, totally informally, to the small town group,” she said. “I got back about 20 responses … and it’s overwhelming that they’re already masking. Many have already put (mandates) in place.”
Llamas said even though COVID-19 cases are more mild, in part thanks to vaccinations and boosters, people are still trying to not spread the virus to others.
Meisner, who also put a mask on as soon as a vote had been taken, brought up the question of enforcement.
“If we’re all not enforcing it, collectively, as a state, which I think should be done, then what good is it to do if we’re hopping around all over the place?” he asked, noting Gov. Charlie Baker has said he does not plan to enact an indoor mask mandate, despite rising COVID-19 case numbers. “It just seems like everywhere we go, you’re going to find people who are either not following it or communities who simply don’t believe in masking. What good is it doing if we’re not all doing it?”
Meisner said he would be “somewhat in favor” of a mandate for town-owned buildings, but wouldn’t support a mandate involving all indoor public spaces and businesses.
Cummings agreed that if a mandate were imposed, it shouldn’t include businesses.
“I feel like it’s (the business’) decision,” he said. “They’re the ones who have to bear the brunt of the conflicts that happen, the potential lawsuits because someone feels discriminated against because they cannot wear one.”
Boudreau, who wore a mask the entirety of the discussion, said he wears a mask anytime he cannot be 6 feet away from another person.
“My point of view on it is, it’s not so much protecting me,” he said. “There’s a lot of people who aren’t vaccinated; I worry about them. I wear a mask whenever I go in any store, anyway. I’m more concerned with looking out for the health of the other people in town. … We should err on the side of caution as far as our public buildings.”
Jacque, who also wore a mask even prior to the vote, echoed Boudreau’s sentiments.
“I will point out the school and the library are already doing it, so in a way we’re already modeling what the kids are already doing,” she said.
With respect to the data, she said, Northfield “continues to be “super, super lucky,” numbers-wise. That said, she noted the town’s positivity rate has doubled.
“I think it’s all about reducing risk and reducing exposure,” she said. “The reason I started wearing (a mask) was because variants will occur — that’s how viruses work, they’ve worked like that for thousands of years. … If I was an employee dealing with the public all day, I would want a little more prudence inside, quite frankly.”
Cummings, however, argued that the new variant, omicron, is “the weakest one of them all, equating down to a common cold.”
“Are we going to do this for perpetuity, every time a cold kicks up from now into the future?” he said. “In regards to this current variant, I’m kind of over the point of requirements. … My own personal perspective is if I want to wear personal protective equipment, I have that choice. If I choose not to, I have that choice.”
Other board members agreed that a mandate in town-owned buildings was about modeling a “community effort.”
“I think most people do the right thing … especially in Northfield,” Jacque said. “I think there’s a lot of concern for the community. I think people feel really protective of Northfield.”
Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne