Westminster likely to encourage face coverings

At least for now, Westminster likely won’t join Central and Clemson in mandating protective face coverings in public buildings.  But members of Westminster City Council want their attorney to prepare a resolution that, to protect against the spread of COVID-19, will encourage face masks.  Councilman Reid Adams suggested the resolution go as far as allowing business owners to deny service to customers who refuse to use personal protective equipment.  The idea of mandating facial coverings proved to be a sensitive topic not only around the council meeting table, but among audience members, some of whom argued with each other outside the meeting room.  During the public comment session inside the meeting room, the mayor and council heard stark differing views from a couple of the speakers.  Jim Digiacomo of the Greenfield Road declared no one has the right to tell him to wear a mask.  But Dr. Billy Campbell, Westminster’s only physician, says everyone should wear a mask for common sense reasons.  Campbell chided the mayor and councilmen for not wearing masks during their meeting, and later Councilman Rusty Cater conceded that the elected officials might not be doing all they should.  The matter officially reached the table last night when Councilman Brad Chastain revealed that his daughter’s restaurant in Iowa City, Iowa was forced to temporarily close when two servers tested positive.  Councilman Adams requested City Attorney Andrew Holiday review a proposed mask ordinance that would allow exceptions to a mask requirement.  Those exceptions would include children, medical reasons, and those whose religious beliefs would cause conflict.  A question posed but not answered last night was in the event Westminster ordered mask wearing, how  such a law would be enforced.