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Date: 6/1/2021
WILLIAMSBURG – The Board of Health hosted a conference call on May 25 to discuss guidelines for opening town buildings. This meeting stemmed from the decision made by Gov. Charlie Baker to lift COVID restrictions on May 29.
Participants on the call included Donna Gibson, Board of Health chair, Gordon Luce and Helen Symons, board members; Bill Sayer, Board of Selectmen; Melissa Wilson, Trina and Tamar Smith of the Senior Center; Nick Caccamo, town administrator; Brenda Lessard, town clerk; and Mark Bushee, Foothills health agent.
During the session, the Board of Health explained that everyone who is vaccinated as of May 29, no longer needs to wear a mask. This includes town offices, the Highway Department, Police Department, and even local libraries. People who can’t or choose not to be vaccinated, must wear a mask.
They added, it goes against Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), to ask people if they are vaccinated or not.
Luce raised some important questions, asking, “Do we need to open up? Is this for convenience or do we need to?”
He followed with, “It’s up to us to allow this to happen.”
The answer to his questions were, “The government is making an announcement from data on the state. Seventy percent of the population of Massachusetts have been vaccinated,” stated one member. They believe the transmission rate is relatively low and people would be angry if the town of Williamsburg didn’t go along with what the governor said.
Caccamo described this issue as an “honor system.” He thinks the town should encourage people to wear masks regardless. Caccamo even suggested the possibility of setting a benchmark for when they can say no masks are longer required.
Some of the participants shared their thoughts on exposure or running a risk for people who have not received the vaccine. The majority agreed that all outsiders, such as delivery people, must wear a mask for the time being.
“If we want to keep town government going, I think we should require it [mask],” said one participant.
Based on Baker’s decision, mask wearing doesn’t change for people who are working with the elderly, in schools, or on public transportation. Whether a person is vaccinated or not, they must wear a mask.
An issue that was raised many times throughout the call was in regard to people lying about having received the vaccine.
Sayer said, according to the three page circular from CP Law, the town's legal council, the town can require employees to be vaccinated. However, there are circumstances for health or religious exemptions. If exempt, a person must show reasonable proof. If there is no accommodation, the town has the right to ask an employee not to work.
Luce said, “The Board of Health is concerned for people … Our town would be affected if we made the wrong decision.”
He reiterated his point of not understanding the urgency to open town buildings. In a town as small as Williamsburg, Luce believes some type of guidelines need to be created, and prolonging the opening for a week or two wouldn’t interfere with anyone.
Participants agreed with Luce, especially due to Memorial Day gatherings and exposure to others.
Gibson made a motion to not open town buildings until June 15. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
The board will be meeting prior to June 15 to discuss further details.