KAYSVILLE, Utah – An email sent by the Kaysville city manager is raising eyebrows.
In the message to city officials discussing the safety precautions for COVID-19 sent last week, city manager Shayne Scott wrote: “Whether you choose to vaccinate or not depends on you. I hope that as a society we will discriminate against those who choose for not getting the vaccine. “
The message has already been posted on social networks and has been the subject of reactions.
Kaysville Mayor Katie Witt discussed the issue with FOX 13.
“We do not discriminate in the city of Kaysville in any way and we do not consider vaccination to be discriminatory,” she said.
She said that no employee will face any discrimination or disciplinary action if she refuses to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Each person’s situation is different. I have a son with cystic fibrosis and we are receiving our vaccines, ”said Witt. “I trust people to make decisions for themselves and their families.”
She added that Scott will not be fired or asked to resign for what she described as a mistake in posting her personal opinion.
“I don’t believe in the culture of cancellation, and Shayne Scott is an excellent municipal administrator,” said Witt. “I am not going to throw anyone away because of their opinion. Absolutely not. This is not American. “
In an email, Scott told FOX 13 that he was unable to give an interview for this story.
This weekend, he sent this email to the team apologizing for the original message:
Staff,
Hello. Happy Sunday. When I apologize for sending two emails in two days, here comes a third.
I’m sure many of you know that my e-mails to you have been circulating around the city and on social media. While I regret the negative attention, my biggest concern is you, our employees.
I know that many of us have different beliefs about this vaccine, and I overreacted when I shared mine. My intention was just to encourage and never to embarrass. We can disagree about that, masks and really anything and still do a great job together.
I’m sorry if my email was a disgrace to anyone. I don’t want to embarrass anyone for not getting the vaccine. I know many people who work individually in our city who chose not to get the vaccine. I had my own reservations about the vaccine from the start. Those who choose not to get the vaccine are as valuable to me and our organization as anyone who has it. My hope has always been that each person makes good decisions when interacting with each other and that each employee makes their own decisions about their health and the health of their families.
I’m sorry for my choice of words. Time course. I want the best for this city and for the employees who work here. I hope to be tried in my 5 years in Kaysville and not in an email exchange. I feel humble and grateful for the mistakes that make me a better person and, I hope, a better municipal administrator.
The policy of the city of Kaysville has been and continues to be for everyone to choose for themselves whether or not they want to receive this vaccine!
I continue to invest in you and your service to Kaysville as an employee. I will continue to work to improve myself as a City Manager, as long as it is the best for Kaysville. I love my job and I am grateful to each of you.
Thank you and I’m sorry!
Shayne