After more than a year, the city of Langley has made the decision to withdraw its mask proclamation and instead follow the governor’s COVID-19 guidelines.

In May 2020, Mayor Tim Callison exercised his emergency powers and issued a proclamation requiring visitors to Langley’s central business core — defined as between Fourth Street to Seawall Park and from Park Avenue to Wharf Street — to mask up, even while outdoors.

The order did not apply to people inside vehicles or their own homes.

Councilmember Christy Korrow, who brought up the proclamation for discussion at Monday night’s city council meeting, had previously advocated for keeping the order in place. However, this week she asked the council to consider getting rid of it.

Councilmembers Thomas Gill and Craig Cyr said they were torn on the issue. Callison and Langley Chief of Police Don Lauer pointed out that businesses will be allowed to determine their own masking regulations.

In the end, the council agreed it would be the simplest to repeal the mask mandate and instead follow Gov. Jay Inslee’s COVID-19 recommendations for the state.

The council voted unanimously in favor of this action.