Winooski’s mask mandate may expire without extension vote

Winooski City Council will vote on whether to extend Winooski’s indoor mask mandate at this Monday’s City Council meeting. 

The vote will address the 45-day extension enacted on Feb. 7, which is set to expire on March 21, according to Mayor Kristine Lott. 

At a recent council meeting, “staff recommended letting the mandate expire in alignment with state and school guidance,” said Lott in an email. 

“School masking is mandated at the state level. It is completely separate from the city and our mandate has no impact on the school,” she said.

The mask recommendation was rescinded for schools with over 80% vaccination rates on Feb. 28, according to a press release from the Vermont Agency of Education on Feb. 15. 

Private schools were exempted from Winooski’s February mandate extension, and will not be affected by Monday’s vote, according to Deputy Mayor Jim Duncan. 

The school has already ended student and faculty masking, and masks were optional at school this week, according to Duncan. 

“Right now, I plan to vote to rescind but I’m also looking forward to hearing what the other councilors think and [to] consider the question on Monday,” he said. 

Many businesses, and people, across the country still feel split about the forgone requirements. 

In a recent poll, three quarters of Americans said they are ready to return to normal from the pandemic, though 58% of them said “they will continue to sometimes wear face masks even after requirements are lifted,” according to a YouGov poll released Feb. 18.

“Some businesses will feel empowered to still require masking if they want and customers will also be able to mask if they desire,” Duncan said, “but I think it’ll allow businesses to tailor what they do more to the needs of their employees and customers.”

“I would hope if we end the mandate, it goes with the expectation that we still have a community that cares for each other,” he said. 

Councilors will also solicit feedback from others in the community at the Monday meeting, said City Councilor Bryn Oakleaf in an email. 

“I anticipate hearing feedback from Downtown Winooski to gauge their perspective as well. With those considerations and the revised CDC guidance I anticipate the city staff recommend discontinuing the mask mandate for public indoor spaces other than those owned by the city. My decision will be informed by that feedback, and health guidelines from the CDC and the state,” she continued. 

Councilors Thomas Renner and Aurora Hurd did not respond to immediate requests for comment. 

Mayor Lott did not comment on how she will vote on the mandate consideration. 

The city will continue to provide masks at the O’Brien Community Center, City Hall, and other locations listed on the city website, “if there’s a need,” according to Interim City Manager Wendy Harrison.