Maine businesses fear for employee safety if made to enforce mask mandate
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Updated: 5:20 PM EST Dec 14, 2020
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Updated: 5:20 PM EST Dec 14, 2020
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KEITHLEY SPOKE WITH A FEW RETAILERS TODAY TO SEE WHAT THEY PLAN TO DO. THIS COULD BE DESCRIBED AS A TEXT-BOOK EXAMPLE OF AN ESCALATING SITUATION. OWNERS OF A LOCALLY-OWNED áSHOP N SAVEá IN CORNISH LAST WEEK ASKING A CUSTOMER TO PUT A MASK ON OR LEAVE.. THE MAN 63-YEAR- OLD ROBERT SANBORN OF HIRAM GETS ANGRY TOSSES HIS GROCERY CART ...THE STORE OWNERS - TWO BROTHERS -- FOLLOW HIM OUT TO GET A LICENSE PLATE NUMBER - THE SURVEILLANCE VIDEO SHOWS THE CAR GUNNING FORWARD AND HITTING ONE OF THE BROTHERS - MARK CALL. "I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT HE PUT IT IN DRIVE AND JUST DROVE STRAIGHT AT ME." SANBORN CHARGE WITH FELONY RECKLESS CONDUCT. ON FRIDAY GOVERNOR JANET MILLS WAS ASKED ABOUT THE RISKS OF HER MORE STRICT MASK MANDATE. "IT SHOULDN'T FALL ON A CLERK WHO IS WORKING ALONE AT NIGHT,EARNING LOW WAGES TO MAKE A LIVING. IT HAS TO FALL ON SOMEBODY AND IT IS UP TO MANAGEMENT TO FIGURE THAT OUT." "WE ARE 100 PERCENT BEHIND THE MANDATE FOR THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE THAT SHE HAS PUT IN PLACE BUT SHE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT ENFORCING IT ENTAILS AND SOME OF THE DANGERS PEOPLE ARE BEING PUT IN." OTHER RETAILERS SUCH AS "FOOD CITY" IN LISBON HAVE HIRED SECURITY TO WATCH THE FRONT DOOR..THE MANAGER SAYING THIS PROVIDES A BARRIER BETWEEN A POTENTIALLY ANGRY CUSTOMER AND HIS EMPLOYEES. "WE CHECKED IN WITH HANNAFORD TO SEE WHAT NEW PROTOCOLS THEY MIGHT PUT IN PLACE TO ADDRESS THE GOVERNOR'S NEW ORDERS THAT CAME OUT ON FRIDAY. A SPOKESPERSON SAYING THEY WILL OFFER FREE MASKS AT THE DOOR WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN DOING. IF PEOPLE REFUSE TO WEAR A MASK, THEY ARE ASKED TO LEAVE. A SPOKESPERSON SAYING BEFORE THINGS ESCALATE: "HANNAFORD WILL TAKE NECESSARY STEPS TO ENSURE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR CUSTOMERS AND ASSOCIATES,