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51 <br /> that could end on May 1st. She said there has been discussion about extending it, but that she <br /> spoke with the County Attorney and Public Health Director and there may be a resolution to the <br /> issue. She said the concern has been with transit workers and riders. She said right now <br /> there is an emergency declaration, but the county lifted the mask mandate and satisfied FEMA <br /> requirements. <br /> John Roberts, County Attorney, said that his understanding is that this has come up for <br /> a couple of reasons. He said one reason is because the towns want to continue meeting <br /> remotely and the second is for protecting transit workers and the public who use public <br /> transportation. He said as far as remote meetings go, the local declaration has no impact. He <br /> said the state declaration is the only thing that grants local governments the authority (and <br /> cities, the specific authority) to meet remotely. He said as far as transit is concerned, the <br /> Public Health Director has broad authority to investigate and implement remedies to prevent <br /> the spread of communicable disease, all the way up to and including quarantine and isolation <br /> of individuals and groups. He said in that specific statutory language, the quarantine and <br /> isolation authority shall only be used lesser alternatives have been tried and have been <br /> unsuccessful. He said requiring masks on public transportation is within the Public Health <br /> Director's authority. He said he spoke with the Public Health Director, and she was willing to <br /> issue that direction. He said the managers can then implement that through their transit <br /> directors. <br /> Chair Price said she has an upcoming meeting with the mayors. <br /> Commissioner McKee said he would like to make a motion to include the wording he <br /> read earlier in the meeting. <br /> Chair Price asked if that could be done at this time since it is an ordinance change. <br /> John Roberts said he had reservations with the wording. He said it needed to be more <br /> specific. <br /> Commissioner McKee withdrew the motion. He said would like to sit down and discuss <br /> it as a policy change. <br /> Chair Price said to make this a petition so staff can begin working on the wording <br /> change. <br /> Commissioner McKee said he would like to pursue this. He thanked the Board for <br /> being willing to discuss it. <br /> Commissioner Richards asked for clarification for if the state of emergency will be <br /> extended. <br /> Chair Price said it will not. <br /> Commissioner Richards asked what the process for will be sharing information if the <br /> declaration is extended. <br /> Chair Price said she would send an email to the Board before May 1 st <br /> 7. Reports <br /> None. <br /> 8. Consent Agenda <br /> • Removal of Any Items from Consent Agenda <br /> • Approval of Remaining Consent Agenda <br /> • Discussion and Approval of the Items Removed from the Consent Agenda <br /> Bonnie Hammersley said she would like to pull item 8-h to be discussed. <br />