By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Bowling Green City Council President Mark Hollenbaugh has been getting a lot of hate emails, phone calls and text messages since introducing the idea of a mask mandate for the city.
Hollenbaugh said he is listening – but he’s committed to doing the right thing to limit the spread of COVID-19. And that, he said, means voting on a city ordinance on July 20 requiring masks inside businesses or public buildings, and outside where social distancing can’t be maintained.
“I’m not going to pass a mandatory mask ordinance to win a popularity contest,” he said. “It’s not about being popular, it’s about doing what’s right.”
Hollenbaugh is trying to balance those angry comments with citizens on the other side of the issue, who have expressed concerns about few people wearing masks in public in Bowling Green. And he’s weighing the opposition against the science which has shown that face coverings are one of the most effective ways to slow the spread of COVID-19.
“I think the people that are upset about it are an extremely vocal minority,” he said.
Before July 20, Hollenbaugh is asking that citizens voice their support for or opposition to a mask mandate to their City Council members.
“I’m really hoping between now and July 20, the governor issues a statewide order,” he said, since a piecemeal mask mandate will be much less effective. But if the state fails to act, Bowling Green city leaders will.
“We can’t just sit back and not take action, and hope that somebody else does,” he said.
Many of those opposed to a mask mandate have written to Hollenbaugh that such a requirement violates their Constitutional rights. He bristled at the twisting of the document’s words.
“The Constitution does not say that people don’t have to wear masks,” said Hollenbaugh, who has taught government for more than 20 years.
City Attorney Mike Marsh has been asked to look at the other mask requirements passed by municipalities in Ohio in order to create one for Bowling Green. Dayton’s mandate includes an $85 fine for people violating the rule.
And Bowling Green City Council members have been asked to do some brainstorming about enforcement options for such an ordinance. One problem likely to arise is that many people refusing to wear masks will blame it on a health condition, he said.
“That’s the tricky part,” he said.
While Hollenbaugh wants Bowling Green residents to have time to comment on a proposed ordinance, he doesn’t want the legislation to go through the standard three-reading process – since that could delay passage for another six weeks from now. So he is hopeful that council will declare an emergency, and pass the ordinance on July 20.
Adding pressure to the issue is the approaching onslaught of students from all over the nation coming back to BGSU next month, Hollenbaugh said.
“I think it’s important that people have an opportunity to weigh in on it – but we can’t wait too long,” he said.
“I don’t know what things will look like by July 20,” Hollenbaugh said. “I’m assuming they aren’t going to look better because we aren’t doing anything to make it better.”
Because the City Council chambers has limited space, and therefore few citizens will be allowed into the July 20 meeting, Hollenbaugh is asking that people contact their council members or submit their written comments to the city clerk so they can be read aloud at the meeting. The meeting can be viewed on YouTube.
“The purpose of this isn’t to inconvenience anyone,” Hollenbaugh said. “The purpose is to keep people safe. I’ll admit it’s inconvenient. I would prefer if we didn’t have to.”
