By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
The debate over a mask mandate at Bowling Green City Council Monday evening didn’t focus on whether or not the city should pass an ordinance – but on how quickly it could be enacted.
During the first in-person meeting since early March, City Council, employees and the public all wore masks. That included two citizens who urged council to adopt a mask mandate.
Dr. Wendy Manning said she would rather have stayed home than risk her health by attending Monday’s meeting. But she felt the issue was too important.
“I live here. I work here. I vote here. I spend money here,” she said. “I think it’s very important that we strive to be a healthy community.”
Manning said Bowling Green has been proactive in the past about public health issues – such as when City Council voted to support the Clean Air Act in 2001, five years before Ohio took similar action.
“How about we do that again?” she asked. “We can set ourselves apart. We can stand out.”
It’s not about personal freedoms. People aren’t allowed to smoke in grocery stores or in classrooms, she said. Manning asked council members to not prioritize the loudest and the most vocal – but instead defend the most vulnerable.
Council member Neocles Leontis asked Manning, a BGSU sociologist, for some advice on how to persuade people to wear masks, and how to enforce the rules against those who refuse.
“Just making a law isn’t going to be enough,” Manning said. She also stressed that action should be taken soon – before students arrive back at BGSU.
“We really need to set something in motion before they get here,” she said.
The other citizen to speak was Rob Piasecki, who also pushed for a city mask mandate.
“I don’t understand the delay in bringing this forward,” he said.
Any inconvenience masks may cause some residents is minor compared to the prevention they afford from COVID-19.
“Let’s care about BG residents,” Piasecki said. “Please do this. Care about BG residents.”
Council President Mark Hollenbaugh explained this plan to have an ordinance ready to be passed as an emergency at the July 20 council meeting.
The mask mandate is necessary because of the recent uptick in COVID cases, and “due to the lack of people voluntarily on their own wearing masks in public places,” he said.
No one on City Council voiced any reservations about a mask ordinance. But some did suggest that the ordinance be adopted next week instead of waiting for the next regular council meeting.
“I would like to advocate for a special meeting next Monday, and pass it then,” said council member Sandy Rowland.
Enough other Ohio cities have enacted their own mask ordinances – so Bowling Green can find a suitable model for this community, she said.
Council member Bill Herald said it’s important for council to balance passing an ordinance expeditiously with providing enough time for public input. He agreed that council can’t afford to take the normal three-reading process.
“We don’t have the luxury of doing that,” Herald said.
Herald said he has been hearing from constituents about a possible mask mandate. The emotions are running high on both sides, with one caller suggesting “that I watch my back,” he said.
Council will have to balance those on one side whose priority is “don’t trample my individual rights,” with those on the other side who want council to “protect my community,” he said.
Herald said he believes passing an ordinance on July 20 is fast enough. Any faster, and citizens may not have time to voice their feelings.
“We have to balance things, and give time for citizen input,” he said.
But council member John Zanfardino said “every day counts.”
“Time is more important than expecting concurrence,” especially since the “two camps on the issue” aren’t likely to change their minds, he said.
Hollenbaugh said work on the proposed ordinance will begin promptly, and by the end of the week it will be known if it’s ready in time for a special meeting.
“I’ll be on your back,” Rowland said.
“You and everybody else,” Hollenbaugh replied, noting the rash of emails and phone calls he has received about the proposed mask mandate.
Also at Monday’s meeting, the city administration recognized employee Andy Sergeant for designing and constructing barriers that effectively protect employees and citizens in the city government building.
“We’re really grateful for all the work he’s done,” Mayor Mike Aspacher said.
Municipal Administrator Lori Tretter described how Sergeant made custom designed barriers that were needed because the city building does not have enough space for employees to maintain social distancing. Most of the barriers are free-standing, so they did not have to be screwed into desks.
“He is such an asset to the city’s staff,” Tretter said of Sergeant.
“In better days, I will shake your hand,” Hollenbaugh said to Sergeant.
