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Letter: Not a safe or comfortable situation

Editor, Gazette-Journal:

I attended the Aug. 23 Mathews Board of Supervisors meeting in the courthouse. I had read in the Gazette that the occupancy had been raised from 50 to 80. This seemed high for the size of the room. I decided to attend the meeting and count the number of attendees.

When the meeting began, the benches were filled by 46 attendees. Twenty-three were standing along the side or in the back and several people were on the stairway.

As the meeting progressed the occupancy increased to 84 people with many standing in the back blocking or near the main doors. There was continuing exiting and entering with some people leaving and reentering.

By 10 p.m., there were seats available on the benches. Some attendees had been standing for four hours and the meeting was still in progress.

This was not a safe or comfortable situation. Had there been a medical emergency or had the building required clearing, the situation could have resulted in tragedy.

I urge the...

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