GREENWICH — A proposed ordinance is scheduled go earlier than the Consultant City Assembly that may name on the to city finish masks mandates for kids in private and non-private colleges in Greenwich.
However the proposal put collectively by RTM member Carl Higbie seeks to claim native management of the coverage. Whether or not the RTM has that energy shall be mentioned as Higbie and his supporters search to put the proposal on the RTM’s name for December.
“I don’t belief the federal government to ever come off” masks necessities, Higbie mentioned Monday. “And I’m going to verify at a city stage I’m going to do every part I can to verify our youngsters don’t need to put on this. I’ve two children at school, each of which hate these masks.”
However it doesn’t matter what occurs with the RTM, there shall be no change in coverage, Board of Training Chair Peter Bernstein mentioned, as a result of the masks mandate has been ordered by Lamont.
“We are going to proceed to observe the governor’s govt orders, which have the drive of legislation throughout the whole state,” Bernstein mentioned on Monday.
The paperwork, signed by greater than 40 city residents, has been submitted to the city clerk’s workplace to place the merchandise on the RTM’s name. That’s far above the brink wanted.
Higbie is a former official within the administration of former President Donald Trump and at the moment hosts a weekly present on the Newsmax channel. He has beforehand clashed with city officers, together with First Selectman Fred Camillo, on masks necessities. Additionally, Higbie proposed an identical ordinance a 12 months in the past however did not get it on the RTM name.
Underneath the proposed ordinance, the RTM can be requested to mandate that the city’s private and non-private colleges “not require its college students of any age to put on masks or face coverings.” It additionally requires the city to not implement “state or federal orders, rules or statutes requiring such coverings for wholesome kids.”
The proposed ordinance additionally says, “There isn’t a scientific proof proven by any member of any college board that masks cut back the unfold of COVID in any significant manner.” And it says, “Masks are solely inflicting detriment to wholesome kids,” together with respiration points and an incapacity to focus.
“I’m not taking part in together with this ridiculousness,” Higbie mentioned. “There’s no proof to assist that our youngsters should be masked.”
Nonetheless, Caroline Baisley, the city Director of Well being, disagrees, saying the advantages of masks are well-established. She pointed to the long-term follow of sporting masks throughout surgical procedure and whereas treating most cancers sufferers by docs and nurses in addition to in finding out the transmission of COVID-19 and the flu, which she mentioned had low numbers final 12 months attributable to using masks.
“We now have seen the worth masks have in maintaining the virus from transmitting from individual to individual,” Baisley mentioned. “We all know that … in a pandemic when you might have a extremely contagious and transmittable illness, and the delta variant is very contagious, it doesn’t make any sense in any respect to cease or get rid of or block (using masks). Much more individuals will get sick, particularly kids who should not vaccinated,” if the coverage is abolished.
Some individuals could not need to put on masks, however they’re wanted for public well being, she mentioned.
The city additionally has masks guidelines. Late final month, Camillo lifted the mandate on non-public companies, permitting them to make their very own insurance policies, however nonetheless requires masks inside all city buildings, together with City Corridor.
A gaggle referred to as Greenwich Patriots has made comparable arguments towards masks and vaccine necessities at Board of Training conferences. Its founder, city resident Jackie Homan, mentioned she is in favor of the proposed ordinance.
“I absolutely assist masks alternative for colleges and suppose it’s lengthy overdue. Our kids are struggling behind masks,” Homan mentioned.
The proposed ordinance was submitted too late for the RTM assembly on Oct. 25. The RTM doesn’t have a gathering in November, so the earliest it may be heard is the Dec. 13 assembly
There’ll possible be questions raised on whether or not the RTM even the ability to implement the language within the proposal.
When contacted by Greenwich Time, RTM Moderator Tom Byrne mentioned Monday that it was the primary he had seen of the proposed ordinance. He mentioned he had not researched the problem or had the chance to debate with the city’s legislation division whether or not the RTM might overrule an govt order from the governor.
“We are going to know extra earlier than the proposal comes earlier than the RTM for a primary learn in December,” Byrne mentioned.
City Lawyer Barbara Schellenberg mentioned she would seek the advice of with members of authorized division who work with the RTM earlier than making a remark.
Final 12 months, Higbie tried to convey an identical proposed ordinance earlier than the RTM that mentioned the city and state should not have the ability to mandate face masks. On the time, City Lawyer City Lawyer Vincent Marino mentioned he didn’t consider the RTM might defy an govt order from the governor.
However Higbie mentioned he considers the governor’s govt order to be “steerage” to the city on coverage and never a mandate and mentioned the city can due to this fact set its personal coverage.
“I don’t suppose the state authorities has the authority to inform my children to place a diaper over their faces,” he mentioned. “In the event that they need to problem it legally, that may come into query and so they’ll need to show their case on that. I don’t actually care if it’s in authorized order or not. We are able to vote on it, and if the state desires to problem it, convey it.”
Higbie shouldn’t be searching for reelection to the RTM this fall, citing his TV schedule, and his time period will finish after the December assembly.
