Block Island Times

Council walks back indoor mask mandate

The New Shoreham Town Council voted unanimously on Thursday night to have Town Manager Maryanne Crawford draft a resolution requesting masks be worn indoors. It was a step back from enforced health and safety precautions the council had suggested earlier in the week. As reported in The Times and also in mainland media, on Monday the town council had proposed adopting an ordinance requiring everyone wear face masks indoors.
Bill McCombe, Block Island’s EMA director, who spoke at both the Monday and Thursday meetings, said he saw progress being made. “I think the council listened, which was great, the business owners spoke, which was great. There’s a lot of good things going on.” McCombe went on to say, “It’s nice to hear the plans the businesses have here. I think we’re on a good path and on the same page.”
Business owners were clearly upset, as the news spread across the internet of the prospect of businesses requiring patrons to wear masks indoors.
Several business owners expressed their frustration that the council had not spoken to them before proposing a mask mandate. Frank DiBiase, III, who spoke on behalf of the Spring House, thanked the council for not

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