Menomonee Falls Village Board passes ban on vaccine mandate for village employees

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. (CBS 58) --  Menomonee Falls Village Trustee Steve Taggart said it was important to take a stance against the federal vaccine mandate for employers of more than 100, before it is finalized.

"Once a right is taken away, it is gone forever," Taggart said. "So let's get ahead of this thing. Let's protect the employees of the village of Menomonee Falls."

The board voted 5-2 to pass the ban Monday, Sept. 20.

Taggart said the mandate is unconstitutional, and he hopes the action encourages local businesses not to follow it.

"We want to express that the village of Menomonee Falls has the back of a private employer and will support the employees' right to choose."

Village President Dave Glasgow said the village has no mandate to ban, and they cannot overrule the federal government.

"If in fact the mandate went into effect, and OSHA enforced it for village government employees, this resolution would not preempt us, would not exempt us from those requirements," Glasgow said.

Taggart said there are about 235 employees working for the village.

The largest affected groups would be firefighters, police and EMS. The resolution would not impact local schools.