Masks remain optional in Newton Falls administration building

Administration offices have no requirement

NEWTON FALLS -- Visitors to the village's administration building on West Broad Street won't be required to wear a mask inside.

Council on Monday decided to leave masks as optional rather than move on legislation that would prohibit mask requirements regardless of vaccine status.

At-Large Councilman Brian Kropp proposed the policy because of a previous experience under the village's former manager David Lynch -- that Kropp was asked to leave council chambers for not wearing a mask.

He said he and other residents were not able to attend council meetings because of their individual decisions not to wear masks.

"That concerned me when I was not able to participate at a council meeting because of my personal decision not to wear a mask. If someone wants to attend a meeting or come to this building wearing a mask, that is their personal decision. To me, this is about being able to make your own choice," Kropp said.

The mandate for the administration no longer is in place under interim village manager Pamela Priddy.

A mask mandate at the municipal court / police department building remains intact, put into place by Judge Philip Vigorito.

Vigorito attended Monday's meeting wearing a mask to swear in new 4th Ward Councilman Christopher Granchie, who is filling the unexpired term of former Councilwoman Sandra Breymaier. She was recalled by ward voters in a July election.

At Monday's meeting, more than 25 people attended with no one wearing masks. Seats in council chambers did have "Please Do Not Sit Here" signs posted to keep people socially distanced.

Mayor Ken Kline said he believes individuals should make their own choice on mask wearing.

Second Ward Councilman John Baryak said if the Trumbull County or state health department mandate masks in public buildings then officials would have to comply and require masks at the administration building.

"Why fix something that is not broken? Unless we have an order from the local health board or the state, we do not require people to wear masks here. These ordinances are not necessary to be passed," he said.

First Ward Councilman Adam Zimmerman said, "We don't have a crystal ball of what may be coming up. I do not believe we should be legislating whether people at businesses or this building should or should not wear a mask. That decision should be left to the city manager."

Granchie, a 10-year member of the U.S. Army, will fill the council committee seats held by Breymaier. They are utilities / public works, public safety, utilities appeal board and civil service.

"I decided to apply for council because I felt if you want something done right, you need to take action yourself," said Granchie, who works as a maintenance supervisor at Swagelok Sales and Service Center in Solon.