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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Board of Civil Authority - 04/22/2020BOARD OF CIVIL AUTHORITY 22 APRIL 2020 The South Burlington Board of Civil Authority Held a Special Meeting on Wednesday, 22 April 2020, at 6 p.m., via remote participation: MEMBERS PRESENT: C. Shaw, Chair; D. Kinville, City Clerk; P. Taylor, H. Riehle, P. Mahoney, R. Nowak, T. Barritt, S. Hutchins, M. St. Germain, A. Milot, J. Abate, Sen. M. Sirotkin, T. Chittenden, B. Gross, A. Gross, L. Vera, K. ALSO PRESENT: D. Young, Superintendent of Schools; E. Fitzgerald, School Board 1. Opening Comments: Ms. Kinville and Mr. Shaw explained the “ground rules” for remote participation. 2. Agenda Review: No changes were made to the Agenda. 3. Comments & Questions from the public, not related to the Agenda: No comments or questions where received. 4. Minutes of 29 February and 7 March 2020: Approval of the Minutes was postponed. 5. Discussion of Potential Revote on FY21 School Budget: Ms. Kinville explained that the School District is proposing a revote on the failed FY21 school budget on May 28th. She noted that she has been speaking with Superintendent of Schools, David Young, with the Secretary of State and with other City Clerks as to a procedure for this revote due to the current concerns with the COVID-19 virus and the precautions and restrictions under which the state is operating. From these discussions, three possible options have been suggested: Option 1 – To hold the election as if these were “normal” but with all possible precautions. All polling locations would be open during normal voting hours. Staff would be needed, and there would be issues as to how to physically handle ballots to voters, pens in BOARD OF CIVIL AUTHORITY APRIL 22, 2020 PAGE 2 voting booths, etc. There could be plastic in front of the check-in and the BCA table, and ballots could be passed under the plastic at the check-in table. Voting booths would be kept to one to a person with the other 3 openings taped off to discourage more than one at a both. Option 1A would be to have just one voting location at the Middle School if a majority of voting is done by early ballots. In an effort to reduce the amount of times that the ballots are handled, all ballots will be tabulator read. All elections workers will be supplied with hand sanitizers, gloves, N-95 mask and possibly a face shield for both option 1 and 1a. Option 2 – Drive-through voting in a public lot. Voters would drive up, be marked off the check list, given a ballot and they would pull forward into a “voting section” where they would mark their ballot and then drive up to another section to deposit their ballot into a bin as they exit the site. This would limit exposure, but would be subject to weather concerns. As an alternative, the UMall garage might be used to avoid the weather concern. All elections workers will be supplied with hand sanitizers, gloves, N-95 mask and possibly a face shield. Option 3 – A ballot would be mailed to every voter with a small window for same day registration. This would be very expensive. Mr. Taylor asked if anyone had an idea where things might be by May 28th. Ms. Milot said she has been told very small groups of people might be allowed by the end of May, but no large gatherings. Every proposed gathering through the summer has been cancelled. She suggested they might not get permission to hold a “regular election.” Ms. Vera suggested the Orchard School site with a drive-through option or a drive-in at City Hall. She did not favor blanket mailing. Ms. Riehle said she would like a “hybrid.” She didn’t like mass mailing of ballots. People should be able to request early ballots and return them to City Hall. She felt the Mall would be a good place for drive-through option. She questioned whether electricity would be available there. Ms. Kinville said that no matter which option they use, there will always be a mail-in ballot for those who request it. The problem is that at present there can be only one person in the City Clerk’s office, and more than one person is needed for the mail-in process. The rest of her staff has been furloughed. Mr. Nowak did not like the idea of a mass mailing. He was OK with requested mail-in ballots. BOARD OF CIVIL AUTHORITY APRIL 22, 2020 PAGE 3 Mr. Chittenden noted that since the Mall is closed, they might possibly do something inside the Mall where there is a lot of space to keep people apart. Mr. Hutchins liked the parking garage or something to avoid bad weather. He questioned whether the Governor would approve this. Mr. Taylor noted the Sears store is empty, but he was concerned with bringing people out to vote. He thought a mail-in ballot was best. Ms. Kinville noted that Barre Town is doing a combination of mailing a ballot to all voters and then doing a 2 hour drive-thru voting for those who did not receive the ballot or need to register to vote. Ms. Riehle noted that there were hundreds of cars in St. Albans when people were picking up food, and people do stand in line at Trader Joe’s. Mr. Hutchins noted that waiting in lines at banking facilities is a very slow process. Mr. St. Germain said they should get clarification from the Governor’s office as to guidelines for a regular process. Having options could cause confusion and could be expensive. Regarding safety, there might be younger people at the polling areas. Ms. Nugent felt ballots should be mailed to everyone. Ms. Gross was concerned with fraud in a mass mailing as you can’t know who completes the ballot. Ms. Abate favored Option 1 at one school or all schools. She was concerned with safety with a drive-in option. She suggested postponing the vote till the first week in June. Ms. Kinville said the Governor asked that there be no votes early in May. This request falls within that guideline. Mr. Shaw felt simplicity was important. Encourage more early voting and have one central voting site. He didn’t feel they could manage a drive-through situation in August or November, and this may be a “dry run” for those elections. BOARD OF CIVIL AUTHORITY APRIL 22, 2020 PAGE 4 Mr. Taylor was concerned with how people will work at the polls and how the Clerk’s office would handle people calling in for ballots. Ms. Kinville said they would handle it the same as they usually only if the Governor will allow 3 or 4 people in the office. She noted there already 1,000 absentee ballots that will be going out to those who requested them for the March 3rd vote. Members of the Board were then polled as to their preferred method of voting and whether they would be willing to work. They responded as follows: Ms. Riehle – Option 1 and encouraging absentee ballots. She was willing to work. Ms. Abate – Option 1, encouraging absentee ballots. She was willing to work. Mr. Gross – Option 1. Willing to work. Ms. Gross – Option 1. Willing to work. Mr. Hutchins – Option 1. Willing to work. Mr. Mahoney – Option 1 or some form thereof with as much publicity as possible. Willing to work. Ms. Milot – Option 1. Willing to work. Sen. Sirotkin – Option 3. Mr. Nowak – Option 1. Willing to work. Ms. Nugent – Option 3 for safety. Would work to process that. Mr. Shaw – Option 3. Not sure about working. Mr. St. Germaine – Option 1. Willing to work. Mr. Taylor – Option 3. Would try to work. Ms. Vera – Option 1 with heavy publicity to encourage absentee voting. Willing to work. Mr. Chittenden – Option 1. Willing to work. Ms. Kinville said she would try to have all polling places open. She asked Supt. Young if there is a concern with using the schools. Supt. Young replied he would work with the Board to have appropriate spacing and social distancing. Ms. Kinville showed a chart of a possible set-up. Mr. Shaw asked if someone without a face mask could be turned away. Mr. Nowak suggested having a supply of masks for those who don’t have one. Mr. Taylor asked if there is a concern with people not voting in their own district. Ms. Kinville said the Superintendent is OK with not knowing the results by district. BOARD OF CIVIL AUTHORITY APRIL 22, 2020 PAGE 5 Mr. Hutchins asked about constitutional issues with turning away someone without a mask. Mr. Shaw said a voter has to exhibit “good behavior” and that wouldn’t be “good behavior.” Ms. Abate suggested asking for additional police to maintain social distancing. It was noted that the School Board will decide on the budget to present to the voters at their 28 April meeting. Ms. Kinville said she would let the Secretary of State’s office know what the Board is requesting and see if it is OK. She will also ask about requiring face masks. Supt. Young said at the April 28th School Board meeting they will set the warning date. It would be May 28 unless that is any change from the State. Mr. Chittenden then moved to adjourn. Mr. Taylor seconded. The motion passed with all present voting in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 7:11 p.m. ______________________________ Clerk