Village Board Adopts Resolution Encouraging Masks For Shorewood

SHOREWOOD, WI — The Shorewood Village Board of Trustees approved a resolution Monday encouraging masks for all residents in public, indoor spaces regardless of vaccine status.

The move puts Shorewood's official advice in line with the CDC's.

"Members of the community are advised to follow CDC guidance related to face coverings, a protective mask covering the nose and mouth, including cloth face coverings or surgical masks, and/or other social distancing recommendations, as described by the centers for disease control and prevention," the resolution said.

At present, the CDC recommends people in areas of high or substantial community spread wear masks whether they are vaccinated or not. Shorewood and Milwaukee County are currently considered at high risk of community spread.

The resolution does not create enforcement mechanisms for the new advice, and it is not a new law. Instead, it can be read as official advice from the Shorewood Board of Trustees.

When it comes to masks, "people in Shorewood have made good decisions," Trustee Tammy Bockhorst previously told Patch.

The meeting item was raised after Mask Up Shorewood, a local advocacy group, asked the Village Board to reconsider its stance on masks, Patch previously reported.

Related: Village Board Will Revisit Mask Discussion Monday

Trustees were also presented with the idea of bringing a new ordinance to mandate the masks. In a report to the Village Board, Village Attorney Nathan Bayer advised against creating a new ordinance without the means to enforce it, agenda packet items showed.

The village previously had an ordinance to require masks against COVID-19, but it expired in May. In the end, trustees decided to go with the resolution.