New Ipswich Selectman Jason Somero has proposed a town department-wide policy against mandated masks.
In the second round of discussions on the issue, Somero proposed during the Select Board’s meeting on Tuesday that the board take an official stance against requiring masks within town departments. Masks could still be worn by those who wished to, but contrary to the current rules, individual department heads could not require them.
Somero said mask mandates were a constitutional violation, and the decision whether or not to wear one was a “personal health issue.” He also said statistics have shown masks aren’t an effective tool.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have maintained that masking is a critical public health tool for preventing the spread of disease. Though the organization has advised that different masks provide varying levels of protection, and for individuals wear the most-protective mask available to them, their website advises that “any mask is better than no mask.”
The World Health Organization also continues to advise the use of masks when around other people.
During a previous discussion on the subject, Chair Shawn Talbot and board member Bert Hamill opposed the measure. During Tuesday’s discussion, however, Talbot said he had changed his stance, although he did not support the whole of Somero’s proposal.
Talbot noted the policy would hit users of the Recreation Department the hardest, as some town sports leagues use school facilities, and if the school district requires masks on school property, the town cannot refute them.
Talbon said if Somero’s proposal included allowances for those circumstances, he could support it, but not if it didn’t allow programs to occur in leagues or in facilities that required masks.
“We don’t have authority over the school. We can’t dictate what they do or don’t do,” Talbot said. “There’s no other options for facilities in town.”
Somero said he was willing to seek other facility options, or not have those programs, saying “sometimes we have to sacrifice for individual freedoms.”
Hamill remained against the measure, saying it was currently a non-issue, as no town departments are currently mandating masks.
“To throw out a policy for the sake of throwing out a policy doesn’t make sense,” Hamill said.
When Somero pressed Hamill on whether mask mandates were unconstitutional, Hamill responded that “Sometimes individual rights have to be subordinated for the public good.”
Somero said taking a stance against mandates sent a message, and if enough municipalities or cities didn’t allow mandates, it would “force [the] hands” of those who tried to put mandates in place. However, he said he was willing to amend his draft policy to incorporate Talbot’s stance, if it would move the concept forward.
Somero intends to amend a draft statement to bring back before the board next week.
In other Select Board news, the board discussed proposed improvements to the Fire Department.
Fire Chief Meredith Lund said the department’s office space, the station itself and the outdoor classroom space all need repairs. She suggested the office be addressed first.
Lund said the office needs some new ceiling tiles, replacement lights, new carpeting or flooring, paint and weatherization around the door.
The classroom building also needs repairs, Lund said. Currently, she said the department uses the Souhegan Valley Ambulance bay for certain trainings, such as CPR certifications, but has used the classroom space for indoor training in the past.
“If deemed structurally sound, we would have a use for it,” Lund said.
The station itself also needs new rain gutters, sealing the floor and new floor grates.
Lund said the town will eventually need a new station, but that concept is still several years out.
“The minor, and I do think they’re relatively minor, repairs will buy us a lot of time,” Lund said.
The board directed Lund to speak with Highway Director Peter Goewey about assessing repairs and what could be done in-house by the town’s building maintenance, starting with repairs to the office.
Board members also met with representatives of the Mt. Monadnock Little League to discuss improvements to the lower ball field at Memorial Park.
League representative Steve Falter said the league was interested in installing lights at the field in order to extend evening games, particularly in the spring and fall. There was also interest in extending the fence.
Falter said the improvements would be paid for through a fundraising campaign, and was seeking the board’s blessing for the improvements.
Board members expressed support, but informed representatives they would likely have to seek approval from Zoning Board for the height of the poles, and to ensure that their lights were within the guidelines of the town’s dark-sky ordinance.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.