Count now 47 mask-free, 15 with public mask mandate
Small towns on both sides describe lack of enforcement
By Guy Page
St. Johnsbury, Bennington and a large number of smaller towns have joined the ranks of Vermont municipalities that have voted no on a mask mandate or have simply opted to not bring it for a vote due to lack of interest.
According to the Vermont Daily Chronicle Mask Mandate Scoreboard, 47 selectboards and city councils have either said no or are unlikely to raise the issue – an effective “no.” Municipalities like Bennington and Rutland City that passed resolutions strongly urging the wearing of masks, but stopped short of a mandate, also are in the “no” column.
Towns of both sides of the issue say lack of enforcement figured into the decision.
“The board voted for a town wide mask mandate, but there is no real way to enforce it,” a Danville town official said. “This allows businesses to make a decision for what they want to do, with a backing by the board.”
The Orange County town of Chelsea has been struggling with having enough police coverage to investigate property crimes such as theft from businesses. Asking police to enforce a mask ordinance was clearly a bridge too far.
“Our Selectboard chose not to approve a mask mandate,” Clerk Karen Lathrop said. “Small towns have no way to enforce a mandate or a budget with which to hire someone to enforce them.”
The one new addition to the “yes” list since yesterday – the town of Norwich, which is a bedroom town for Dartmouth College and the nearby Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center – included a plethora of exemptions. According to the Valley News, the rule does not apply to schools, churches, private residences or offices where people are separated from the general public. Also exempt are stores, gyms or theaters that restrict entrance to those who have been vaccinated for COVID-19.”
Starting yesterday, Vermont filmmaker and activist Bradford Broyles has prepared a holiday shopping guide for Vermonters seeking to bring their business to mask-free towns. It will be updated periodically, the most recent version included in each daily Mask Mandate Scoreboard.
YES
Brattleboro – Nov. 23
Burlington – Dec. 2
Danville
East Montpelier – Dec. 6
Essex Town – Dec. 6
Manchester
Montpelier – Dec. 8
Norwich – Dec. 8
Rutland Town – Nov. 24
Thetford – Dec. 6
Waitsfield – Dec. 6
Warren – Nov. 25
Williston – Dec. 7
Wilmington
Winooski
NO
Arlington
Barnet
Barre – Nov. 30
Bennington – Dec. 14*
Brandon – Dec. 7
Burke – Dec. 6
Cambridge – Dec. 7
Charlotte – Dec. 6
Chelsea
Dummerston
Fairfax – Dec. 6
Halifax – Dec. 4
Hardwick – Dec. 2
Hartland
Hyde Park – Nov. 29
Middlesex – Dec. 7
Milton
Moretown
Morrisville – Dec. 6
Rutland City – Dec. 6
Shelburne – Dec. 7
Springfield – Dec. 6
St. Johnsbury – Dec. 13
Stowe – Dec. 6
Waterbury – Dec. 6
No Action or Discussion Scheduled
Albany
Alburgh
Andover
Belvidere
Benson
Castleton
Corinth
Duxbury
Eden
Elmore
Granville
Groton
Hubbardton
Irasburg
Jay
Jericho
Johnson
Kirby
Lowell
Middletown Springs
Bristol
Lincoln