Davidson Punts Face Mask Mandate, Leaves It Up To Businesses

DAVIDSON, NC — The Town of Davidson will rely on businesses to decide face mask policies for employees and customers after the town's Board of Commissioners voted down a proposed face covering mandate Tuesday night.

Those requiring employees and patrons wear masks will be asked to post a prominent sign at their entrance.

Commissioners called the special meeting to discuss a possible mandate requiring face masks in town as Gov. Roy Cooper readied to announce the next steps in easing restrictions put in place statewide to slow the spread of coronavirus. Cooper is set to make an announcement Wednesday evening about Phase 2 of opening up the state, which is expected to begin Friday at 5 p.m.

SEE ALSO: Cooper Expected To Unveil Phase 2 Reopening: How To Watch

While the officials largely lauded the need for a mandate in order to protect employees and the public, they acknowledged the many challenges that such a policy would create for the town.

"The enforcement challenges come from, obviously, if there's confusion, specifically if we have restrictions more than a county or state order already has," said Davidson Police Chief Penny Dunn told commissioners.

"We're dealing with a public that is fatigued, that is stressed from being under these restrictions. It comes to that point where we're making personal choices for our own well being," she said. "When officers start to intervene in some of these interactions, they're met with resistance and it quickly deteriorates into a conflict," she said.

Thusfar, enforcement of the statewide stay-at-home order in Davidson has been complaint driven, Dunn said.

In the last 60 days, Davidson Police Department has received a handful of complaints about mass gatherings, four complaints about businesses and "quite a bit more" when it comes to complaints regarding social distancing on the town's greenway, she added.

"Approaching someone and asking them why they're not wearing a mask when they should be wearing a mask, and they begin to tell you about a medical condition," or a sensory sensitivity, "that's a difficult place to put an officer in," Dunn said.

"We understand that we have to take on those challenges but we certainly don't want to be enforcing something that is dramatically different than what the rest of the state is being required to do," Dunn said.

Town Manager Jamie Justice said he was concerned that the added enforcement that would come with a mandate would put front line first responders, like police and fire, at added risk.

While the town won't be pursuing a face covering mandate, leaders expect the community will be increasingly wearing them in the days ahead.

"I think you're going to be surprised at the number of shop owners that are going to have their employees wearing masks," said Davidson Mayor Rusty Knox. "I think you're going to be surprised at the number of individuals --once stores start opening up — that are wearing masks."

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