At the Regular Council Meeting held on Tuesday, October 12, 2021 Council adopted the Town of Creston’s COVID-19 Immunization Policy, which mandates that all employees and volunteers must be fully immunized against COVID-19 by December 4, 2021. In addition, Council directed staff to prepare a separate COVID-19 Immunization Policy specifically for members of Council.
“This Council fully supports the implementation of the COVID-19 Immunization Policy for the Town’s employees and volunteers and it is important to us to lead by example,” stated Mayor Ron Toyota. “As such, the Council COVID-19 Immunization Policy has the same timelines as the policy for employees and volunteers, and states that any member of Council who has not received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by October 22, 2021 and their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by November 20, 2021 would be required to participate in Council meetings virtually and forfeit remuneration until fully immunized against COVID-19,” he added.
Current COVID-19 prevention measures in place in Town facilities for employees and the public will continue to apply including wearing of masks, physical distancing, enhanced hand and surface sanitizing and staying home when unwell.
“The implementation of the COVID-19 Immunization Policy is one additional measure that we, as local government, can take to ensure that our employees and volunteers are protected against COVID-19 as we continue to deliver critical and essential services to our community,” said Michael Moore, Chief Administrative Officer. “We greatly appreciate Council’s support of the policy and for taking the initiative to establish a policy for themselves as elected officials. Both policies have the same intent, which is to ensure we are all doing our part to protect our community and health care system by mitigating COVID-19 pressures.”
The Town of Creston’s COVID-19 Immunization Policies require all members of Council, employees and volunteers, including volunteer firefighters with Creston Fire Rescue and all areas under the Town of Creston’s fire protection contracts to be fully immunized against COVID-19 by December 4, 2021, requiring individuals to have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by October 22, 2021 and their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by November 20, 2021 to be considered fully immunized against COVID-19 by December 4, 2021. The policies include exemptions for medical and religious grounds which require acceptable proof. Until such time that the employee or volunteer chooses to become fully immunized against the COVID-19 virus, they will be placed on leave without pay, while any members of Council who are not fully immunized against COVID-19 will be required to participate in Council meetings virtually and forfeit all remuneration.