Board of Aldermen 5-21-2020 Page 34
Alderman Dowd
Yes, | am sorry | am joining the meeting late, the Planning Board got delayed because of a technical
difficulty and we just went through the School Portion. So if | could have Ms. Lovering please read the
amendment that we are addressing now. | understand the comments but I’d like to know exactly what the
wording is of the amendment.
Susan Lovering, City Clerk
The amendment that passed earlier was to include a first offense as a warning and a second offense and
any subsequent offenses to be a $25.00 fine.
President Wilshire
And the current motion is to rescind that amendment that we already voted on.
Alderman Dowd
Ok thank you.
President Wilshire
Thank you. Alderman Klee.
Alderman Klee
Thank you so much, Madam President. | wanted to make two comments. One is | wholeheartedly agree
with what Alderman Lopez said about if we start making Legislation based on threats or fear that someone
is going to protest what we do, then we might as well just put everything on the ballot or just not even be
here. It renders us impotent in so many ways. The other thing | wanted to mention is that the United Way
and | have been working with them since Monday. Right in front of City Hall, they have been giving away
hundreds and hundreds of masks. The first day, | know we gave 750 masks. We have been giving them to
anybody who comes, three per person to the family; they have now expanded that. Starting on Tuesday,
they are going to be at Railroad Square and City Hall giving away masks. The businesses do have masks
and | am sure that many of them want to do it. | don’t think if someone showed up without a mask they
would be turned away; | am sure the business would have something. | am telling you we are flanking both
ends of Main Street to make sure that people have masks. The United Way has completely stepped up
incredible in helping in this way. So | don’t think the fact that someone doesn’t have a mask is going to
become an issue. But | want to say very strongly that we can’t give in to the possibility of threats. And |
mean no disrespect to Alderman Clemons, but | do have two comments and one is that just passing this
Ordinance alone with or without a fine, with or without a warning, in my opinion is still going to bring those
same people out. To be honest with you, in some respects this was instigated by a Facebook post that
said that this was ridiculous and so on. So again, | mean no disrespect, | am just being very honest. Thank
you.
Alderwoman Kelly
Alderman Wilshire.
President Wilshire
Alderwoman Kelly.
