Androscoggin County commissioner offers new resolution that forbids county officials from enforcing mask mandate
Isaiah Lary s statement advocates for prohibiting the county from using funds, personnel or resources to enforce the governor s orders to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Androscoggin County Commissioner Isaiah Lary of Wales speaks at a recent commission meeting in Auburn. Lary opposes the state requirement that masks be worn in public to prevent the spread of COVID-19, saying it’s unconstitutional.
Andree Kehn/Sun Journal
AUBURN Instead of backing down, Androscoggin County Commissioner Isaiah Lary of Wales has doubled down.
Facing a potential recall vote over his initial resolution arguing against the mask mandate and other executive orders issued by Gov. Janet Mills to prevent the spread of COVID-19, he released a new resolution Wednesday, a week after the first was tabled.
Spokesman: Citizen group will drop recall effort if commissioners renounce anti-mask resolution
Three of the seven Androscoggin County commissioners are facing a potential recall vote for their views on not wearing masks during meeting at the county building.
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Androscoggin County Commissioner Isaiah Lary of Wales watches as his anti-mask supporters were asked to reduce their numbers in the room at the Feb. 3 meeting in the county building in Auburn.
Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal
AUBURN The spokesman for a group of local residents seeking to recall up to three members of the Androscoggin County Commission said Tuesday that his group will drop the recall effort if each targeted official publicly renounces the anti-mask resolution being considered by the board.
Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal
AUBURN After receiving a warning last week from the Maine Attorney General’s office, the chairwoman for the Androscoggin County Commission announced that only commissioners and county employees will be allowed to attend in-person meetings.
Chairwoman Sally Christner wrote in an email to the commissioners, Androscoggin County Sheriff Eric Samson and Chief Deputy William Gagne that “due to the space constraints, we will be only allowing commissioners and employees to attend in-person meetings.”
“We are presently working on a Zoom option for the public to view the meetings,” Christner said.
Christner’s statement arrived shortly after she received a letter from Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey telling the commissioners that they were “legally obligated to require that all persons attending public meetings, including the commissioners themselves, wear face coverings.”
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Androscoggin County Commissioners Brian Ames of Lewiston, left, and John Michael of Auburn talk before the start of the Feb. 3 commission meeting at the county building in Auburn.
Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal
AUBURN A recall effort is underway to remove three members of the Androscoggin County Commission for their roles in the anti-mask debate that has consumed commissioners the past few weeks.
Targeted commissioners include Isaiah Lary of Wales, who authored the controversial anti-mask resolution that states the mask mandate by Gov. Janet Mills is unconstitutional and calls for residents and visitors of Androscoggin County to decide for themselves whether or not to wear face coverings.
Citizen effort underway to remove members of Androscoggin County Commission
Papers filed to recall anti-masker and Lewiston commissioner Brian Ames, and plans made for Wales Isaiah Lary and Auburn s John Michael as well.
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Androscoggin County Commissioners Brian Ames of Lewiston, left, and John Michael of Auburn talk before the start of the Feb. 3 commission meeting at the county building in Auburn.
Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal
AUBURN A recall effort is underway to remove three members of the Androscoggin County Commission for their roles in the anti-mask debate that has consumed commissioners the past few weeks.
Targeted commissioners include Isaiah Lary of Wales, who authored the controversial anti-mask resolution that states the mask mandate by Gov. Janet Mills is unconstitutional and calls for residents and visitors of Androscoggin County to decide for themselves whether or not to wear face coverings.