City should have given more notice

I would like to express my disappointment in the handling of the face mask policy vote by the Whitefish City Council.

Every business owner in Whitefish should have received notification to discuss the proposed mask policy for the city. As it stands, only a fraction were invited. Discussions between the Council and a small group of individuals about policy that effects every person in Whitefish have no place in our city.

It’s interesting to note that the 30 letters in the online packet for the Monday, July 6 Council meeting were dated either June 29 or 30. This indicates that only those who were invited to the discussion the previous had foreknowledge of the proposed mask policy and were able to submit comments to the City Manager six plus days before the vote.

The remainder of residents learned of the proposed mask policy from the Daily Inter Lake article on July 4, leaving only 48 hours to alert others and submit a comment over a holiday weekend.

It’s hard to believe Council members were able to read and thoroughly consider 500 plus letters from the public within a few hours before the vote on Monday, July 6 — including a petition that gathered 400 plus signatures against the face mask proposal.

Moving forward, it’s crucial the Whitefish City Council takes the time to represent the full voice of Whitefish residents in a transparent and accountable manner.

Carolanne Wright, Whitefish