Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes 2023-35RESOLUTION 2023-35 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS, ARIZONA, REGARDING MASKING AND VACCINATIONS AS AN INDIVIDUAL PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY WHEREAS, the Town of FOUNTAIN HILLS seeks to proactively assure its citizens of our commitment to responsibly protect your rights and liberties enshrined in the Constitution, and endowed by God and/or the Creator in light of recent media reports of local and state governments in other areas of the United States reintroduce new COVID-style mandates; and WHEREAS, the Town of FOUNTAIN HILLS, beginning in March 2020, implemented responsible planning and measures to prevent the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), and to prepare for emergency actions in responses to the spread of COVID-19 without infringing on the rights and liberties of our citizens; and WHEREAS, the Town of FOUNTAIN HILLS knows that effective health behaviors and decisions can be accomplished through personal responsibility and it is each person's individual duty to protect themselves, their families and the community; and WHEREAS, the FOUNTAIN HILLS Town Council believes the decision to wear a mask and to receive a COVID-19 vaccination are personal decisions, not something to be mandated by government; and WHEREAS, the FOUNTAIN HILLS Town Council believes in the right and liberty of individuals to make personal decisions according to their convictions NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and Common Council of the Town of FOUNTAIN HILLS, Arizona, as follows: Section 1: The FOUNTAIN HILLS Town Council recommends Town employees continue to practice personal responsibility to prevent illness; Section 2: Section 3: Section 4: It shall be the policy of the Town of FOUNTAIN HILLS to allow employees to make their own decisions regarding vaccines and wearing masks, as those are personal decisions that do not require government mandates; As elected officials representing the residents of the Town of FOUNTAIN HILLS, the Town Council has the authority to make rules, regulations, and orders that protect the health, safety, and personal liberty of the employees of the organization; Because the decision to receive a COVID-19 vaccination is a personal decision that should be made according to an individual's own convictions and employees of the Town of FOUNTAIN HILLS will not be compelled to wear mask or be vaccinated to keep their jobs; Section 5: Section 6: The FOUNTAIN HILLS Town Council recommends its citizens and the general public exercise personal responsibility to prevent illness, but commits to not implementing measures such as mask mandates, business closures, vaccination requirements, curfews, or any similar measure; The Town's Personnel Administrative Handbook regarding Infectious Disease Outbreak (Pandemic) Response is hereby amended to reflect this Resolution; Section 7: That this Resolution shall remain in full force and effect until amended, repealed or terminated by vote of the FOUNTAIN HILLS Town Council; Section 8: All prior resolutions or parts of resolutions in conflict with the provisions of this Resolution are hereby repealed effective as of the effective date of this resolution; Section 9: If any section, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this Resolution is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions thereof. PASSED AND ADOPTED BY the Mayor and Council of the Town of Fountain Hills, Arizona this 17th day of October 2023. FOR THE TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS Ginny Dickey, Mayor REVIEWED BY: Rachael Go . ' wi Town Manager ATTESTED TO: Lindy G. Mendenhall, Town Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: Aaron D. rnson, Town Attorne7—