While I am glad to see some of the covid restrictions being rolled back due to the declining numbers, it’s good to remind people that we still have more daily cases than we did this time one year ago, when we went virtual.
Members of our Delmont council have decided that moving forward, they are no longer going to offer virtual meetings, probably because they did not like the questions that some residents asked them last month.
Despite returning to in-person meetings, the council still does not enforce mask wearing at meetings, and many members do not wear masks, in violation of the governor’s public health order (for indoor events, 15% of maximum occupancy; mask wearing, social distancing and hand hygiene must be enforced; 15% maximum occupancy is permitted only if attendees can keep 6 feet of distance between them). Meaning, if you want to address council, you have to sit in a room with people not wearing masks, putting yourself at risk just to be civically engaged.
You shouldn’t have to put your health and that of your family at risk to make your voice heard in your community. If you agree, call the borough office and ask council to resume virtual meetings until they enforce mask wearing at meetings.
Bill Marx
Delmont
The writer is a Delmont council member.