Telegraph file photo by DEAN SHALHOUP Nashua Division of Public Health and Community Services director Bobbie Bagley speaks at a press conference last week, regarding the current status of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mayor Jim Donchess, right, also spoke. (Telegraph file photo by DEAN SHALHOUP)

NASHUA — Whether the city should again put into place a mandatory face-mask ordinance at least through the end of January is one of the two topics on the agenda for tonight’s special meeting of the Board of Aldermen.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the aldermanic chamber at City Hall. The meeting will also be carried via Zoom. For information on joining the meeting on Zoom go to www.nashuanh.gov, click on “agenda center,” then click on the link for the agenda for tonight’s meeting.

Also on tonight’s agenda is a public hearing on ordinance 0-21-073, which, if passed, would amend the inclusionary zoning portion of the city’s Zoning Districts and Supplemental Use Regulations legislation.

That hearing is scheduled first on the agenda, but that could change depending on public turnout for one or both of the agenda items.

As for the mandatory mask ordinance, which is sponsored by Ward 4 Alderman Tom Lopez and Ward 3 alderwoman Patricia Klee, a simple majority vote of the board is required to approve the legislation, which would take effect immediately and remain in effect through at least the end of the day

Monday, Jan. 31.

The entire proposed ordinance as currently written can be found by going to the agenda center and scrolling down to page 10, where the text begins.

The proposal, and eventual adoption of, a mandatory mask ordinance was met with pushback the first time around, and it appears that similar anti-mask sentiment continues to exist.

The city Board of Health, citing alarming statistics showing a rapid rise in COVID-19 cases over the past two to three months, decided following their December meeting to recommend to aldermen that they implement a mask mandate, “and do so without delay, given the impending holidays,” according to the introduction portion of the proposed ordinance.

Numbers compiled by the Board of Health show that COVID-19 cases are up 47%, hospitalizations are up 21% and deaths are up 40% in recent weeks.

Also, New Hampshire, which had the dubious distinction of being the number one state in the nation for cases per capita, now shares that designation with Rhode Island, the numbers show.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.