Plum mayor not happy that Verizon requested he wear a mask while in his home during service call

Plum Mayor Harry Schlegel said Verizon canceled an appointment to upgrade his service because he refused to comply with the company’s request to wear a mask while in his home with a technician.

“I don’t care if your technician comes in a space suit,” Schlegel said. “That’s up to them, but you’re not going to tell me to wear a mask in my house. … It’s my private property. You can’t tell me what I have to do. You can tell your employee what to do.”

The company’s request was for the customer to wear a facial covering if not able to maintain 6 feet separation during the visit, and asked if he was OK with it.

The mayor replied that he would not wear a mask in his own home.

After a couple of other text messages, the company canceled the appointment.

Andrew Testa, a public relations manager at Verizon, said such requests are part of company protocol and a customer would receive those types of messages during a confirmation of an appointment.

He also confirmed any appointments would be canceled or rescheduled if safety protocols are not agreed to.

“This really is about protecting the safety of our customers and certainly our employees,” Testa said. “It’s for everyone involved.”

Schlegel, a Vietnam veteran, said socially distancing would not have been a problem, but he fought for his country’s freedoms and did not appreciate the company trying to tell him what to do.

“I’m not giving up my rights,” Schlegel said. “I didn’t put any restrictions on them.”

He noted that if council passed a mandate requiring masks in council chambers that he would comply.

“That’s the (borough) building,” Schlegel said. “That’s not my home.”