Darien Aldermen Debate Mask Rule

DARIEN, IL — The majority of Darien City Council members agreed Monday they should wear masks during meetings. But some questioned the policy, especially while speaking. They noted that plexiglass shields separate each of the aldermen.

At previous meetings, wearing masks has been a choice for aldermen, although audience members are required to wear them. Two aldermen, Lester Vaughan and Tom Chlystek, pushed for requiring them of aldermen. At the meeting's start, all the members were wearing masks except Ted Schauer, who later put one on.

Vaughan said he lives with someone who suffers underlying health issues. He urged people to set aside partisan considerations when it comes to face masks.

"A mask will protect not only my family but your family as well, so my request is to have aldermen wear masks throughout the meeting," Vaughan said.

He noted students and teachers will be required to wear masks.

"It's important for us to set the tone as leaders in the community, to step up to the plate to support our children and our teachers and respect each other's personal decisions to wear face masks to protect loved ones," Vaughan said.

Chlystek said two of his Ward 4 constituents have died from the coronavirus. One was an 83-year-old woman whose husband is now widowed. The other, he said, was a neighbor, Joyce Pacubas-Le Blanc, a UIC Medical Center nurse. He said he promised her two sons, both Hinsdale South High School students, that he would wear masks at council meetings.

Chlystek also said his mother is battling cancer and his daughter suffers breathing issues such as asthma.

"Why would I risk my residents and my family just because I can't take two seconds to wear a mask?" he said. "My duty as an elected official is to be a leader, to represent those from our community."

Alderman Tom Belczak agreed, saying wearing masks sets a good example and it does not hurt to have them on.

Alderwoman Mary Sullivan said her only concern was that constituents may be unable to hear masked aldermen. Given the plexiglass, council members should be able to remove their masks when speaking, she said. Aldermen Schauer and Eric Gustafson agreed, with Schauer suggesting the council review the mask-wearing rule every two months.

Mayor Joseph Marchese said he believed masks were critical to wear, but contended sound could be an issue. He said he missed nearly all of what the soft-spoken Vaughan had said. On the council video, all the masked aldermen, including Vaughan, could be heard clearly. But the sound in the meeting room apparently was different.

Alderman Joseph Kenny said he was wearing a mask out of respect, but he said he would not if he had a choice. He noted the plexiglass shields on both sides of each alderman. He said his wife, a nurse, worked on a COVID-19 unit.

"Not every nurse is going to pass away. I'm sorry that nurse did," Kenny said.

He said he has lived with the fear that he and his wife could get the coronavirus. "Her attitude has been she's got as much a chance of catching it at Aldi as she does working on a COVID-19 unit. We all have to be careful. We all have to wash our hands. We all have to be respectful," Kenny said.

Aldermen agreed to require they wear masks during meetings and plan to revisit the policy by Oct. 1.