West Chester Mayor Amends Order After Her Own Large Gathering

WEST CHESTER PA — West Chester Mayor Dianne Herrin amended her Oct. 2 State of Emergency Declaration late Monday, clarifying conditions for large gatherings, after her outdoor public campaign event raised eyebrows.

The adjusted emergency order allows residents to request gatherings of up to 25 people. To gather in groups of more than 10 and up to 25, residents my submit a request form to the mayor's office at least two days before the event. If approved, West Chester Police will be notified that the event is approved, the mayor's Oct. 12 statement said.

The mayor's Oct. 2 declaration limited "social gatherings at private residences."

But Sunday afternoon, Herrin held a campaign fundraiser at Melton Center Field, with at least 50 people gathered to support her race for the state legislature.

The Oct. 2 declaration said, "All outdoor and indoor social gatherings at private residences must be limited to 10 or fewer people. When the number of members living in a household exceeds 10, no additional persons shall gather at the property, either indoors or outdoors."

The statement went on to warn that "All known violations will be cited by the West Chester Police Department at $300 per person, for each participant in such gatherings including the household member(s) hosting the gathering. "Household" is defined as the same dwelling unit."

Last week the mayor's office confirmed that citations were being issued in the borough, including for violations of the order to wear masks in public, but no numbers have been provided for how many citations and fines have been handed out.

Herrin is currently a candidate for Pennsylvania State House District 156 Representative. She held an outdoor fundraiser for that campaign Sunday afternoon on Miner Street in the borough.

Herrin told Channel 10 NBC news late Monday, "I don't want to over restrict anyone."

The mayor defended the event that was not at a private resident, saying "it was outside," and "we're following all the governor's orders," as "restaurants and anyone else needs to follow the governor's orders."

Herrin insisted in her live interview with NBC that anyone is "free" to have a gathering like she had, as long as they follow the safety precautions, as she did.

Some residents have not interpreted the emergency declaration as offering the freedom Herrin described. News and social media posts by West Chester residents indicated a sense that Herrin's gathering represented hypocrisy and inconsistency. Others defended the mayor's actions, saying the Oct. 2 order was aimed at public safety, and that the outdoor public gathering on Sunday did not violate the emergency order.

Meanwhile, COVID-19 cases increased in West Chester Borough, up by 12 cases in five days, numbering 536 on Tuesday, from 524 on Oct. 8. The 18- to 22-year-old age category continues to see the most cases in the borough, which is home to a significant student population.

Late Monday, Herrin issued an amended version of the State of Emergency Declaration.

"With release of this letter, I am amending the October 2, 2020 state of emergency order in the Borough of West Chester to allow residents to request gatherings of up to 25 people, or more upon special exception based on public safety requirements," the mayor's amendment read.

"This enables those with the ability to practice COVID safety precautions to gather responsibly and safely. Without this approval, gatherings at residences remain limited to a maximum of 10 people."

The amended order underscored that "All other requirements outlined in the original declaration remain in effect until further notice, including masking requirements."

Those "other requirements" include the requirement to wear masks in public, and the warning that citations with $300 fines may be issued to violators.

"Those wishing to request gatherings (greater than) 10 people can complete a request form, and it will be reviewed/approved within 2 days or less if needed. The West Chester Police Department will be notified in advance of all approved gatherings. Forms can be obtained from Emily Pisano: EPisano@west-chester.com," the amended statement said.

Herrin reminded residents that her original order was intended to address rising infection rates in West Chester Borough's "rental community among 18- to 22-year-olds."

The amended State of Emergency Declaration states, "All other gatherings in commercial, public, and non-residential spaces continue to be permitted, as they have been, provided they adhere to the Governor's state-mandated requirements. Commercial business and restaurant operations continue to remain under the purview of the Governor's COVID safety requirements and must also meet the requirements in the PennDOT-approved plan for the Gay Street Open-Air Marketplace."

Defending the order, Herrin said requirements in the borough are "in line with similar ordinances in other college communities across the state and country." Following actions taken in State College, where COVID-19 infection rates "were skyrocketing in the college-age population in their rental communities," Herrin cited data there, which showed infection rates down by 50 percent in the two weeks after State College issued its emergency declaration.

"I know the majority of our residents will do their part to protect our neighbors. COVID-19 remains a public health emergency, with nearly 1,000 Americans dying each day from the disease, and experts predicting potentially steep increases in infection and death rates this fall. As long as we all follow the Governor's orders for non-residential properties, and the requirements in this and the original declaration for residential properties, we can help keep our economy open while protecting ourselves, our neighbors, and our loved ones," Herrin's amendment stated.

To apply for a permit to gather more than 10 people, residents can obtain a from from the mayor's administrative assistant, Emily Pisano, by email.

Read a related story here.