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COVID-19 stress evident in council’s debate

When discussing whether to conduct future meetings in person or virtually, council members weigh safety over return to ‘some normalcy’

by CHRIS BURRITT

OAK RIDGE – Oak Ridge Town Council members split over the best way to conduct meetings during the COVID-19 outbreak, highlighting how the worsening virus is wearing on town leaders deciding how to perform the town’s business in a safe manner.

After nearly 50 minutes of debate during its monthly meeting Jan. 7, the council wound up where it had started – voting on an original motion by Councilman George McClellan; the motion gave members of the Town Council and other committees and boards the option to meet in one of three ways: in person, remotely or using a “hybrid” model allowing for people to attend in person or virtually.

“I believe that in times of crisis we have to provide some normalcy,” McClellan said, explaining that offering three options for meetings gives council and committee members leeway, based partly on the recommendations of town staff. “I believe there should be flexibility.”

The council met remotely earlier this month for the first time since September as the worsening virus has heightened health risks of public gatherings.

Before the council voted on McClellan’s motion, Mayor Pro Tem Jim Kinneman offered a substitute motion that would require all meetings to be held remotely, with the council reviewing the requirement monthly.

Kinneman cited statewide and national trends showing record-high numbers of positive cases and deaths related to COVID-19. A more contagious strain of the virus is spreading in the U.S., putting even greater stress on hospitals, he said.

“If you guys are scared by the facts, I’m sorry,” he said. “These are the facts. When the disease is conquered, we can go back to in-person meetings.”

“I’m not scared by anything at all,” McClellan said. “Risk is risk. The risk is acceptable.”

McClellan said Oak Ridge has been relatively unscathed by the virus. Citing statistics from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, he said that, as of Jan. 7, there have been 379 recorded cases and two deaths related to COVID-19 in Oak Ridge’s postal zip code 27310.

“Oak Ridge has been blessed with low numbers,” council member Martha Pittman said. “Part of that is a lot of citizens have been doing what they should. But we do have community spread.”

She said she supported Kinneman’s motion requiring remote-only meetings, with the possibility that the council may ease the requirement based upon monthly evaluations of virus statistics.

“What degree do we want to be safe?” Pittman asked. “We can be safe, we can be safer and we can be safest. With the current levels of community spread, I think our best option at this point is to be safest.”

Kinneman added that not all committee members and town staff are comfortable attending meetings in person.

The vote on Kinneman’s motion was 2-3, with the mayor pro tem and Pittman outnumbered by McClellan, Mayor