By Heart of Illinois ABC
BLOOMINGTON – Elected leaders in McLean County found it’s hard to reach an agreement about what the new normal will look like when it comes to conducting government meetings during COVID-19.
Tuesday evening, the McLean County Board’s Executive Committee considered Chairman John McIntyre’s proposal to conduct in-person committee meetings starting next month, but one of the obstacles to be decided is whether board members and the public should be required to wear face masks.
McIntyre suggested people wear masks until they’re seated for the meetings, presumably several feet apart to meet social distance guidelines. Those members feeling uncomfortable with the situation can participate in the meetings by phone, according to McIntyre.
However, Democrats on the executive committee voiced strong opposition to the change, citing safety concerns. Justice Committee Chair George Gordon said he polled his committee and found one of the seven members probably would not wear a mask.
“I would really want to see us require masks,” said Gordon.
‘I’m not all that certain I would support even going to in-person meetings for committees. It’s that critical to me, and I think the danger is that great,” Gordon said.
Another Democrat, Laurie Wollrab, expressed similar concerns.
“We’re putting ourselves at risk, and therefore we’re putting the entire community at risk,” Wollrab said.
She noted virtual committee meetings on YouTube and Facebook worked well, and have been more accessible to the public.
Most of the county board’s work is done in committees.
Full county board meetings would stay virtual because social distancing can’t be achieved when more people crowd into the county board room.
Republican Susan Schafer said she’s attended an in-person Board of Health meeting, in which all were wearing masks.
“We have to learn how to live with this,” said Schafer.
“If you want to wait until there’s a vaccine to meet in person, it may never happen. We can’t govern that way,” Schafer added.
Chairman McIntyre said in-person meetings are necessary to conduct closed-door executive sessions on matters including the county’s administrator’s annual review. McIntyre said he will present a proposal with various options at next Tuesday’s county board meeting.
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