City Council Delays Mask Ordinance Vote

The Decatur City Council members say they need another week to think about whether to pass a mask ordinance.

As we mentioned -- the decatur city council delayed a vote on a face mask ordinance as tonight.

This comes after the council passed a resolution to encourage people to wear a mask, then quickly set up tonight's meeting.

It was to consider making it a rule with penalties for those who defy it.

Now, members say they need another week to think about it.

Waay 31's casey albritton is live at city hall with more on the future of this possible rule, and what some people hope happens to it.

Here at decatur city hall, city council members and members of the public spent about two hours talking about why they are either for or against a rule that could become the first of its kind in north alabama.

"i wear it out of respect for and i would appreciate it if you wear a mask out of respect for me."

"the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

If i want to wear a mask, i will wear a mask.

If i don't i won't."

It all started as a room divided... "that is a horrible position to be proposed by our city leaders to further divide this city and to finger pointing over something that's not criminal action."

"i haven't heard a lot about personal responsibility.

Wearing a mask doesn't just protect yourself, it protects others."

And ended without a decision... chairman/ paige bibbee "no one had actually seen that document until last night when it was passed out so of course, i'm not going to vote on something we hadn't read."

Some council members wanted to create and vote on a mask ordinance this week.

Councilman billy jackson "any precaution at this point is better than no precaution."

The city council eventually agreed to hold a meeting monday to continue the discussion.

Chairman/ paige bibbee "mr. kirby suggested that we go line by line and tell what we wanted to change."

Council chairman paige bibbee says there's a lot to consider and more public comment to be heard before any ordinance is voted on.

Julie clausen/ speaker at meeting "it is taking away people's rights to make personal health decisions."

Councilman charles kirby "how many deaths are acceptable to exercise that freedom?

Is it one death?

Is it five?"

I did notice there were more people in the meeting who did not support a mask ordinance tonight... but chairman bibbee says that's because those who do support it feel more comfortable emailing their views rather than risking exposure to the coronavirus.

Live in decatur, casey albritton, waay 31 news