The City of Denton is keeping its face mask rule in place. It requires people in city buildings to wear masks while in common areas in order to help limit the spread of COVID-19.
The Texas Attorney General's Office sent a letter to the city last week instructing officials to rescind the rule by 12:00 noon on Tuesday, February 22nd. That deadline passed without any action from the City Council.
The letter told Denton city officials their mask order was in violation of an executive order issued by Texas Governor Greg Abbott that banned local jurisdictions from adopting their own face mask policies. It has been the subject of several legal challenges.
During a meeting on Monday, several members of the Denton City Council indicated they would base their decision on the mask rule on guidance from the CDC, not the Texas Attorney General.
"This council has pretty consistently referenced the CDC as our guiding authority on public health measures," Mayor Pro Tem Paul Meltzer said.
The CDC could revise its guidelines for wearing masks in doors as early as next week.
"Once that new guidance comes out... if it differs significantly from what has driven our current policy, I would like to as quickly as possible reconsider," Meltzer said, "so that we align with whatever the current guidance is."
Other Council members supported that plan.
"I think that it's very important that we continue to be mindful of the science. I have a great respect for those folks who are doing that hard work out there for us," Council Member Vicki Byrd said.
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