Newton Councilors Call On Mayor To Require Employee Vaccinations

NEWTON, MA — A group of Newton city councilors have called on Mayor Ruthanne Fuller to issue a vaccination requirement for all city and school employees and expand her current mask mandate to include all indoor public spaces.

In a memorandum to Fuller written by City Councilor Marc Laredo and signed by the other 23 members, the councilors urge the mayor to take this step in the name of protecting the community as the Delta variant spreads and COVID-19 cases continue to increase.

"While we have a relatively high rate of vaccinations in Massachusetts, and especially in Newton, it is not enough," says the memorandum. "Recently, Governor Baker issued an order requiring tens of thousands of state workers to be vaccinated."

"We are cognizant of the legal and collective bargaining issues involved in this decision," it continues. "But our collective lives and economic well-being are at stake. Now is the time to follow the evidence. We must beat COVID-19 and the only way to do so is if we are all vaccinated. Thank you for all you are doing to keep our residents, workers, and visitors safe."

According to the memorandum, the only city and school employees who would be exempt from the vaccination mandate are those with demonstrated medical conditions or sincerely held religious beliefs that cannot be reasonable accommodated.

"I do not take this position lightly," said Laredo in a statement to the community. "Mandates should be a last resort in a democratic society. I also recognize that there may be legal and collective bargaining hurdles to overcome. But we cannot let these obstacles stand in the way of protecting our families, friends, neighbors, and community."

The city council's memorandum is not the first call for Fuller to expand the current COVID-19 safety policies, with mayoral candidate Amy Mah Sangiolo calling on the mayor to include all indoor public spaces in her mask mandate on Monday. The potential vaccination requirement for city employees is also gaining support from local leaders and political candidates, who see this as Newton's chance to protect its residents.

“As someone who ran a major teaching hospital, with ultimate responsibility for patient and staff safety, I believe that this is a thoughtful proposal that deserves an expeditious response," said Paul Levy, Ward 6 candidate for Newton School Committee. "It is especially timely in light of the FDA's full approval of a vaccine."

"Our school superintendent, based on the advice of his medical advisory committee, has said that all staff should be vaccinated," he continued. "Without a mandate, the word 'should' has little weight."

The full memorandum sent to the mayor is available here.