POUGHKEEPSIE – The Democratic caucus of the Dutchess County Legislature is denouncing Chairman Gregg Pulver for not enforcing the county health department’s guidance on mask-wearing in public spaces. The dispute occurred after Pulver was re-elected as chairman by an overwhelming majority. Majority Leader Will Truitt and Legislator Michael Polasek were not wearing masks while seated at their desks.
Legislator Brennan Kearney (D-Rhinebeck) spoke during the meeting and said, “I am asking Chairman Pulver to enforce the mask mandate in place for our County Office Building and ask Legislators Will Truitt and Mike Polasek to wear masks to help protect us all.”
Kearney was not in the chambers for the meeting and was participating via Zoom from her home. She went on, saying “His negligence and their poor decisions are putting all of us—our families and children and elderly parents, and our constituents and all the residents of Dutchess County–in danger during this newest and unprecedented outbreak of COVID 19.”
Reading from the Dutchess County Health Department’s webpage, Kearney said, “All persons able to medically tolerate a face-covering/mask, regardless of vaccination status, should wear an appropriate face-covering/mask while in any indoor public place.” Minority Whip Barrington Atkins expressed his concerns over the lack of enforcement, noting that he would not have invited his 83-year-old grandmother to the meeting if he knew that the mandate was not going to be enforced.
Pulver responded to Kearney’s complaint by pointing out that last month several lawmakers including himself, Kearney, and former Minority Leader Rebecca Edwards were at a restaurant seated together, without masks on. Rebuking Kearney’s concern, Pulver said, “Use your common sense and don’t go within six feet of them!” Legislator Truitt also denounced Kearney’s argument by pointing out that during his entire time in the county building on Monday, he was wearing a mask until he took his seat at his desk.
