COVID-19: Greenfield masks

Greenfield Mayor Sticking by Mask Advisory

Says Mandate Would be Too Great a Burden on City

GREENFIELD – Amidst growing calls that the city mandate the wearing of face coverings in public, Mayor Roxann Wedegartner has explained her reasoning for holding to the advisory the city issued last week.

 The wearing of face masks and their efficacy in stemming the transmission of the novel coronavirus has become a topic of much discussion, with some countries calling for the wearing of masks in public. The Centers for Disease Control first advised the American public earlier this year that masks weren’t necessary, and even that masks should be avoided due to a shortage of professional protective gear for medical professionals. Then, on April 3, the CDC reversed its position, advising the public to wear a mask when going out, and provided instructions on how to make a simple one.

 During a Thursday afternoon press conference outside the emergency operations center (EOC) at the John Zon Community Center on Pleasant Street, Wedegartner explained her reasons for maintaining this city’s advisory position: the burden of enforcing such a mandate, and the inability of the city government to provide a mask for every resident.  

“Our police department and our health department employees are working hard to address daily calls and issues around social distancing, and believe me, there have been many, many calls,” Wedegartner explained. “They did not need this added enforcement action in their day-to-day work.

“In regard to access [to masks], the EOC, with its on-going supply issues, was unclear if they would have the capacity to both meet their mission and meet the demand for distribution of PPE to all city residents – which I feel like we would have to do if it were mandatory,” the mayor said, adding “we strongly encourage everyone to wear face coverings when out in public as an additional layer of protection for yourself and your community.”

On Sunday, former city council president Karen “Rudy” Renaud posted on Facebook that she intended to ask the current council leadership to schedule an emergency meeting “to discuss face coverings in public.” A day later, she submitted a draft ordinance to the council that would mandate their use.

On Wednesday, city council president Ashli Stempel-Rae and council vice president Otis Wheeler issued a statement in reply, saying they had discussed the matter with local leadership, and they had decided not to take action toward mandating masks.

“There have been requests for City officials to order that face masks be worn in public, and for City Council to hold an emergency meeting to discuss. We appreciate and understand the spirit of the request; health and safety is our greatest concern, and in a state of emergency, an abundance of caution is warranted. However, after conferring with Mayor Wedegartner, and inquiring with Command Staff,” the press release reads “we feel that such an action is not justified at this time.”

“It remains as it was outlined in our release, a strong advisory,” the mayor said Thursday. “The city is not mandating the wearing of face coverings in public and there will be no fines issued or negative consequences for members of the community who do not have a mask to wear in public.” 

However, the mayor had stern words for local businesses. 

“I especially want to remind all of our retail businesses that have been designated as essential and able to stay open, to have their employees wear masks as well as make every effort to encourage customers to be doing the same thing.

“Our board of health is monitoring our essential retail businesses, at my direction.”

The city is working with local crafters who have been making masks for use by the general public. “This week we’ve launched a donation and distribution drive for homemade cloth masks,” the mayor said, adding that hundreds of masks have been pledged by an anonymous donor and are expected soon at the EOC.  

If any Greenfield resident needs a mask, the mayor encouraged them to contact the city’s COVID-19 resource and information line at 413-775-6411.

“It is a type of honor system,” the mayor said.

A number of Massachusetts cities have recently mandated the use of face coverings in public, including Northampton, Holyoke, Salem and Brookline.