Cypress approves vaxx policy for council, chambers

By COLLIN GALLANT on January 19, 2022.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

Proof of vaccination or negative test results will become a requirement to attend in-person Cypress County council meetings, councillors voted on Tuesday afternoon in Dunmore.

The measure, which only extends to anyone attending council meetings and the council chambers, won’t apply to others seeking to access county services in the building.

Coun. Richard Oster proposed the policy change after recently spending time with county staff before a recent council meeting.

“It was all very good with (staff behind) barriers, then I walked in here,” he said during Tuesday’s meeting.

“There’s no protection (in chambers) when we have guests or our staff, and that’s not right.

“With the numbers going crazy, looking after ourselves and our staff is important.”

The motion carried with all councillors speaking with some level of support, but also debate about extending the measure to meetings of public boards or whether to use Government of Alberta terminology of “restrictions exemptions program.”

That allows businesses, like restaurants, to operate at regular capacity if vaccine status of clientele is verified.

But, it has also been a lightning rod of controversy with a vocal minority of Albertans arguing it is a violation of their rights.

Eventually councillors determined that in-person access to the front counter would not be restricted, and the ability to produce a negative test in lieu of a vaccine record would maintain public participation at council.

“There are individuals for whatever reason aren’t choosing to get vaccinated, but we should give them the opportunity to provide a test result,” said Coun. Robin Kurpjuweit, stating that some level of requirements is becoming “the norm.”

“Some of our ratepayers may not love the idea… but we can still do this while being courteous.”

Residents and ratepayers can request to take part via virtual means, either through the live web broadcast or via an online meeting portal – options that are now common, said county manager Tarolyn Aaserud.

Early in the pandemic, public participation in open meetings was entirely limited to online means as strict capacity limits were in place.

General discussion gave the impression no council members or staff would have an issue producing a vaccination record.

Coun. Michelle Mackenzie said the key issue was safety.

“I don’t particularly care if they (members of the public gallery) are vaccinated – that’s their choice – but I’d feel better if they had a negative test,” she said.

Coun. Blaine Brost also supported the motion.

“I don’t have a problem with this, because elected officials should show leadership,” he said

“But I’d like to sit down and ask the health minister how any of it makes any sense.”

Members also discussed practice in other municipalities.

The City of Medicine Hat enacted REP requirements at almost all of its public facilities, such as rinks and cultural centres.

The exception is city hall, which instead operates with capacity limits in place, including within council chambers and board rooms where some other open meetings take place.

Hat officials told reporters last fall that services offered at city hall, such as the payment counter, planning offices, utility and other inquiries, are considered essential services to which access should not be limited. At the same time, they encourage conducting as much business as possible online or by telephone.

Oster said the notable difference is that Medicine Hat council gallery is several times larger than the county’s, with greater ability to space out attendees.

27
-26