Board of Aldermen 09-22-2020 Page 64
again. And while | am frustrated that it has become so polarizing for people, | don’t think that’s a reason to
not pass this.
If we use that mechanism, we would look at it and not make — we don’t make laws based on the possible
misconduct for people who refuse to followthem. And as a City that was a border town, we were leaders
onthis. There are other cities that are now considering doing this because of the success we’ve had and |
think we need to continue being a leader on this.
President Wilshire
Anyone else? Alderman Laws.
Alderman Laws
| kind of want to echo wnat Alderwoman Kelly just said. If we are doing this because our medical experts
are telling us that wearing a face mask will help curb the spread of this disease and here we have our local
Law Enforcement Expert telling us that he needs us to help him and pass this Ordinance so he can ensure
that he can keep the public safe. It’s the same thing, first of all. Second of all, | never serve minors. | think
that’s important to put that out there.
Police Chief Carignan
| do want to concur, |do want to concur he is very, very good.
Alderman Laws
Thank you.
Alderman Lopez
For all minors.
Alderman Laws
Third | think that we need to consider that, | mean | understand the concems for the safety of the 16-year
old who has to confront somebody. But! think we also need to consider that by passing this Ordinance
and giving it to the Police to enforce, we are also protecting that 16-year old from potentially getting COVID
and brining it home to her grandparents and killing them. You knowit works both ways and | feel like the
alternative, you know, $1,000.00 fine for businesses that refuse to adhere to this Ordinance, | mean they
deserve it. We live in a society of laws, if you don’t want to follow the laws, you pay $1,000.00 fine. I don’t
think that politicizing this and thinking that whatever you think about science, | don’t think that trumps the
right of people to live healthy, safe lives; people who go to work and have no other option should be able to
go to work and not have to worry about getting COVID because somebody doesn’twant to wear a mask.
That’s it.
President Wilshire
Ok. Alderman Clemons
Alderman Clemons
Thank you. | appreciate the fact that the Chief came in and clarified some things for me. | know that when
this passes that it will be enforced fairly and | appreciate that. With all of that said, | can’t support it
because | feel that the fine is too expensive as | was (inaudible) with that wen we first passed this. And
secondly, | won’t support it because | don’t think it’s appropriate to ask somebody for a doctors note.
