Should Dartmouth businesses require their employees to wear face masks?

Town officials will be looking into this and other coronavirus-related questions after the Select Board’s first virtual meeting on April 27.

Details about the town’s June 23 election and discussion over a possible remote Town Meeting on June 2 also emerged at the meeting, along with questions about whether the new maritime center building in Padanaram should open this season.

While many stores and restaurants have already taken precautions against the novel coronavirus by having employees wear masks and face coverings, board members noted that not everyone has followed suit.

Member Frank Gracie said he received a complaint from a resident saying there was a sandwich shop where employees were not wearing masks while preparing food.

He discussed with other Select Board members whether the Board of Health should require all essential employees to wear a mask.

Gracie said he felt town officials should not always wait for the state or the federal government to make decisions for the town.

“If we think it’s a good idea, we should pass it to the Board of Health and we should do it as a local government requirement,” he said.

Town Administrator Shawn MacInnes agreed to discuss the issue with Director of Public Health Chris Michaud.

For the recently rescheduled town election on June 23, Town Clerk Lynn Medeiros said that while she has taken precautions for the voters, such as getting masks for all poll workers and disinfectant wipes to clean voting booths, she is still trying to get hand sanitizer and plexiglass.

She added that residents will be able to vote by absentee ballot or mail-in early voting. All applications for absentee or early voting ballots must be at the Town Clerk’s office before noon on the last business day before the election.

Also under discussion was whether the maritime center in Padanaram should be opened this summer. Select Board Chair Stanely Mickelson was concerned that it would be difficult to keep the facility clean.

“If it’s open, we need to be sure that we can protect everyone,” he said.

Ultimately, the Board agreed this should be further discussed with local businesses and other town departments.

As for the planned June 2 Town Meeting, the Select Board members discussed possible options that could be taken if there is still a state of emergency, including the minimum number required for a quorum. 

MacInnes said he did not see anything changing with regard to quorum, but noted there may be a way to allow for a remote meeting on platforms such as Zoom. 

If there is still an emergency on June 2, he said the meeting moderator is allowed to extend the meeting date 30 days past the end of the state of emergency.

The Select Board is expected to vote on the town warrant at its next scheduled meeting on May 4.