Board of Aldermen 02-22-2022 Page 19
— actually | think it was two months ago - may have an emergency meeting maybe in between, it was necessary to make
an emergency decision in the moment because if they waited until they were sure of how long we should extend the mask
mandate, that would have expired. So the original mandate was supposed to expire in January, they had a meeting, they
were talking about the numbers, and they took a risk. They had to make a decision about what would be happening in a
fairly unknown case with regards to letting the mask mandate expired in February. They were reluctant to do it because
they weren't 100% sure where the numbers would be that the numbers were really going down. That was really time to
remove this but they were conscious of the public opinions and the impact that it had on the public as they were equally
concerned about the messaging we were sending to hospital staff and to healthcare workers.
So this is very similar to that in the situation, there isn't an emergency other than if we don't deliberately make a decision
to remove it tonight, we will not be able to make a deliberate decision to remove it until it is rescinded automatically, and it
dies its natural death. But we're in a different situation than when we originally extended this for the extra month. So in
deciding whether or not you're going to allow for the second reading, you're really just determining whether or not we're
going to give this issue another look. That takes courage to because we could get it wrong. There could be a huge surge
in COVID for all we know over the next week. It is going to be vacation week and there's going to be more kids around.
The School Board did make its decision for its mandate to for its masking to expire, or at least the optional, as of the 28th.
So there's risk either way.
What I will say is | am greatly reassured by Dr. Storace’s testimony because | have respect for the Board of Health. | was
their liaison for two years and | take that role very seriously. | worked very hard to make sure that they knew they had an
audience here with the Board of Aldermen. We would listen to them. In the original masking discussions that we had, we
didn't always invite them up to the table to share their opinion, to advise us, and to perform their roles. They weren't
under the impression that that was an option and there's still a little bit of tension between the two bodies trying to figure
out when does an Alderman speak? When does a doctor get to speak? That's a problem when you have a public health
issue. So | want to make sure that it's understood that the Board of Health has our respect and that we are not
contradicting them or overriding them. These mandates were made on their recommendation and they did take courage
as Alderman O'Brien said, but we weren't the originators of that courage. We needed the doctors to come forward and tell
us what their beliefs were based on their studying and their knowledge.
So | have a lot of respect for the Board of Health. |, myself, introduced legislation relevant to the Board of Health's
structure and in finding out that they didn't support that, they didn't endorse it, and they didn't agree with it, | retracted it
because it's important that we work together especially in a crisis and it's important that we ensure that all voices feel like
they have the ability to be heard and when to qualify voice, you need to recognize that. These are doctors we confirmed
and President Wilshire appointed based on their service, their qualifications, their history. They meet every month to
closely monitor and vet public health issues that we mostly concern ourselves with only when they are a problem. So they
do a lot of good work and they put a lot of time in. | want to be very clear, at least on behalf of myself, that | respect their
opinions and | respect what they brought forward.
| also want to say that | respect the student who spoke tonight Sage for sharing her thoughts. The amount of qualified
information she was able to provide and the way she was able to advocate, | think any healthcare organization to be
taking a look at her. We have a shortage of people. We have a shortage of people with a passion and | think maybe we
have some students with more insight into health care and value than any generation before. So | respect both voices. |
would just like to say that if we do not make this motion for the second reading, we won't have the further discussion and |
think there's value on both sides.
Alderman Clemons
Thank you. So relative to the motion that's before us, my question through you Madam President is to the Mayor.
Because as we know, all legislation either has to pass seven days or have the Mayor’s signature in order to become law
and whereas there's only six days to the end of the month, my question is if we go through this process and pass this
tonight, hypothetically, would the Mayor sign it tomorrow?
Mayor Donchess
Well my custom is usually to sign legislation the next day, which | would do in this case.
Alderman Clemons
Thank you.
