Section 2. Purpose.
The purpose of this Rule is to require all individuals to wear face coverings while indoors at locations that are open to the public in order to prevent and mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and protect the public health and safety of the Town of Hartford.
Section 3. Requirement to Wear Face Coverings.
All individuals in the Town of Hartford shall wear face coverings while indoors at locations that are open to the public.
Section 4. Exceptions.
Face coverings are not required for:
• Any person officiating or participating in a religious service or activity in which the temporary removal of a face covering is necessary to participate in or complete the religious service.
• Additional exceptions: Children under 2 years; A person with a disability who cannot wear a face covering or cannot safely wear a face covering for reasons related to the disability; A person for whom wearing a face covering would create a risk to workplace health, safety, or job duty as determined by the workplace risk assessment; Any person while eating or drinking inside any establishment that serves food or beverage.
Section 5. Other Laws.
This Rule is in addition to all other ordinances and rules of the Town of Hartford and all applicable laws of the State of Vermont. All ordinances, rules, or parts of ordinances, rules, resolutions, regulations, or other documents inconsistent with the provisions of this Rule are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency.
Section 6. Severability.
If any section or provision of this Rule is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such finding shall not invalidate any other part of this Rule.
Section 7. Effective Period.
This Rule shall take effect immediately upon the approval by the Selectboard and shall remain in effect for a period not to exceed 45 days following its initial adoption. The Selectboard shall meet during the 45-day period in which this initial Rule is in effect and vote either to rescind this
Rule or to extend it for an additional 30 days. Thereafter, the Selectboard shall meet at a minimum once every 30 days to reconsider this Rule, at which meeting the Selectboard shall vote either to rescind this Rule or to extend it for an additional 30-day period. The filing of a petition under 24 V.S.A. §§ 1972 and 1973, shall not govern the taking effect of this Rule.
ADOPTED by the Selectboard of the Town of Hartford at its meeting on this 14th day of December, 2021.
December 17th Additional Exceptions
In order to allow those venues to continue to do business, we must incorporate an additional exception to the Hartford Face Covering Rule. I have provided a proposed motion below that is based on the City of Burlington’s exception for this type of activity.
Motion:
That the Selectboard enact an additional exception to the Hartford Face Covering Rule that masks are not required in the portions of a theater or athletic arena where the individuals performing, exercising, or playing have space, a physical barrier or ventilation system that separates them from the general public or audience.