A - Town Council Meetings

MOUNT PLEASANT TOWN COUNCIL SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING Tuesday, September 15, 2020, 2:30 p.m. Municipal Complex, Council Chambers 100 Ann Edwards Lane Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 MINUTES I. Call to Order Mayor Haynie called the Town Council Meeting to order at 2:30 p.m. Council Members Howard Chapman, Brenda Corley, Laura Hyatt, Kathy Landing, Tom O’Rourke, Jake Rambo, Gary Santos and Guang Ming Whitley were present. Mayor Haynie called for a moment of silence to honor the loss of long time resident, Captain Wayne Magwood. II. Public Comment Carmen Nash, 1230 Gannet Road, Mount Pleasant, stated that she would like to recommend amending the proposed temporary ordinance to include potential risks of wearing masks. Rima Shretta, 123 Civitas Street, stated that she is an epidemiologist and works with the University of Oxford in collaboration with WHO (World Health Organization), on COVID-19. She worked with WHO before moving to Charleston. She asked that the public rely on the scientists to provide scientific data. She asked Council to reinstate the ordinance and extend it indefinitely until we, as a state, are well below the threshold of safe. Cynthia Nirenblatt, 516 Walden Street, Mount Pleasant, stated that COVID-19 cases and near related deaths are down because of mask wearing mandates. She asked Council to pass the mask ordinance mandate.  Mike Noviella, 221 Bayfront Drive, Mount Pleasant, stated that at the Town Council meeting on September 8th, both sides were heard. He urged Town Council to vote “no” on the mask mandate. Olga Blandford 1742 Central Avenue, Sullivan’s Island, stated that we are being manipulated and brainwashed. Adam LeRay, 1728 Battalion Drive, Charleston, stated children know that masks make them sick. He said Council has a duty to protect the children. He does not wear and mask and neither do his children. Tim Kiel, 605 Pelzer Drive, Mount Pleasant, stated his wife is a nurse and takes samples for COVID-19 and masks protect her patients and the patients’ masks protect her, her mask protects him and his mask protects those at this meeting. He said to pass the mask mandate ordinance. Melissa Munsell, 2751 Christ Church Court, Mount Pleasant, stated that she is the manager in the Emergency Department at Roper Mount Pleasant Hospital and takes seriously the responsibility she has for this community. From Friday, September 11th until today, there was a surge in admissions and Roper experienced a 100% increase in hospitalizations from COVID-19. She has worn a mask for her 27 year career and has never been sick from wearing a mask. She and Roper St. Francis support the Town in passing the mask mandate ordinance. Jackie Klingenburg, Hogan’s Alley, Mount Pleasant, stated that she does not believe it is the role of the government to provide medical mandates. Nothing supporting that shows that masks work. Suzie Vahala, 2031 Prospect Hill Drive, asked if everyone would like to choose a mask to keep everyone safe or be responsible for choosing a casket for your friends and neighbors. Denis Blythe, 610 Pelzer Drive, Mount Pleasant, stated that after the last Town Council meeting, he and many other speakers were called out for not sanitizing and specifically for not sanitizing the microphone. The virus is not transmitted from a microphone to him. He did wear a mask the entire time. He chooses to do what he can to help others to live and hopes they will do the same for him. Page 2 of 3  Keith Blandford, 1742 Central Avenue, Sullivan’s Island, stated that he is against the mask mandate. Margaret Rodenburg, 808 Post Oak Drive, stated the division and shame and categorizing is not deserved for those who are unable to wear masks. She said our Town deserves better. Lynn Furlough, 3536 East Higgins, Mount Pleasant, is here to represent the residents and families of South Bay. She has 200 geriatric patients and 500 family members and 200 staff members and all are dependent upon the positivity rates of Charleston County. She asked Council to continue the mask ordinance so her patients are able to see their families. Jessica Schmidlapp, 1619 Marsh Harbor Lane, Mount Pleasant, stated that she wears a mask because her husband is an orthodontist. She said it is the simplest thing to do and does not understand why it is so difficult. III. Final Reading: A temporary Ordinance requiring persons to wear face coverings in certain circumstances in the Town of Mount Pleasant to reduce risk of exposure to COVID-19 during the public health emergency and recovery. (Ord. No. 20058) Ms. Whitley moved to approve; seconded by Mr. Chapman. Mr. Chapman, Ms. Hyatt, Mr. Rambo, Ms. Whitley and Mayor Haynie were in favor. Ms. Corley, Ms. Landing, Mr. O’Rourke and Mr. Santos were opposed. Motion to approve carries 5-4. This Ordinance SIGNED, SEALED and DELIVERED this date. IV. Adjourn There being no further business, meeting adjourned at 3:08 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Barbara Ashe MacDonald September 15, 2020 Page 3 of 3