Following a lengthy closed session discussion at a special Huntsville Council meeting called on October 1, 2021, council emerged with a COVID vaccination status policy for all municipal employees.
The resolution, which alluded to an amended confidential report, states that all unvaccinated municipal employees will be required to undergo COVID testing every 48 hours or once per day if they are in direct contact with the public.
It also states the testing will be done at their expense unless the municipality is able to secure free testing for its staff.
Two councillors voted against the resolutions because according to a source the motion did not go far enough.
Councillors Tim Withey and Bob Stone voted against it.
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I agree with the people who say that town staff should be vaccinated. After being locked out of town services for over a year because of the virus, this is not acceptable. We were forced to keep your employees safe and now this should be reciprocated.
Ridiculous when the taxpayers of this town have to show vaccine passports ! As Brenda Begg commented there are no ‘free tests’
A very idiotic decision by council which makes no sense considering health department restrictions.
Mandatory vaccines or take a hike !
There is no such thing as “free testing.” In the long run, ‘someone’ pays.
This is terrible if we your constituents have to have vaccinations times 2 and prove it then so should your employees. This is hypocritical, and needs to be fixed. What is the point of having tests every day or every two days when it takes 4 days for the results unless they are useing rapid tests which aren’t as reliable and they are expensive even the hospital dosnt use them. Something wrong here, Danny Armour should be voting for shots he is or was a paramedic. I seriously hope other people run in the next election because if this isn’t fixed I won’t be voting for any councilors that don’t stand behind the employees having two shots, and im sure there will be alot of others who will feel the same way.
Get the shot or take a walk!
If, by ‘not far enough’, it means you get the shots or work elsewhere, I am with Messers Stone and Withey (go figure). The measure is for the greater good and I see no reason for the municipality to do other than assign the task, outline the conditions of employment and provide a paycheck.
The vaccination is a condition of employment and bobbing about getting someone a free test is a waste of somebody else’s time.
It is somewhat….odd that council still hold meetings sequestered in their private little hidey-holes, while we are paying for a town hall and the most have us just got our shots, wear a mask when we need to and get on with our lives.
To carve at the Summit Centre I have to show proof that I have been twice vaccinated. While staff can go to work without any vaccinations. Something wrong with this decision. But, once again politicians calling the shots, not professional health experts. No pun intended.
“Two councillors voted against the resolutions because according to a source the motion did not go far enough. Councillors Tim Withey and Bob Stone voted against it.”
Does this mean these two councillors (Withey and Stone) were the only ones who wanted everyone working for The Town of Huntsville fully vaccinated?
It is hypocritical of my employees (my taxes pay for) to work in a building (my taxes fund) to require me to show proof of two vaccines and they themselves to not have to comply.
Time this lack of protection for the community be taken out of the hands of the politicians and follow the request of our public health – get vaccinated and keep your job. And your community keeps healthier!
A precedent that will come back to bite You. Encouraging those in the minority to thumb their collective , possibly unhealthy noses , at the 80%
Fully Vaccinated and the overwhelming scientific evidence to show vaccines are the way out of this PLAGUE IS NOT THE RIGHT DECISION.
Please reconsider for the health and safety of My Family and Friends of which many of You are !