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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Board of Civil Authority - 05/19/2020BOARD OF CIVIL AUTHORITY 19 MAY 2020 The South Burlington Board of Civil Authority Held a Special Meeting on Tuesday, 10 May 2020, at 6 p.m., via remote participation: MEMBERS PRESENT: D. Kinville, City Clerk, Acting Chair; P. Taylor, H. Riehle, M. Mahoney, P. Mahoney, R. Nowak, T. Barritt, S. Hutchins, J. Abate, Sen. T. Chittenden, B. Gross, A. Gross, L. Vera, M. Emery 1. Agenda Review: No changes were made to the Agenda. 2. Comments & Questions from the public, not related to the Agenda: No comments or questions where received. 3. Minutes of 12 and 29 February, 7 March 2020, and 22 April 2020: Ms. Riehle moved to approve the Minutes of 12 February, 29 February, 7 March and 22 April 2020 as written. Ms. Vera seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 4. Approve presiding officers and election officials for May 28th election: Ms. Kinville explained that the polls will be open as on a normal election day. She then said the presiding officers will be: Ms. Vera at Orchard School Mr. Taylor at the Middle School Ms. Kinville at Chamberlin School The list of election officials was also presented. Ms. Kinville noted that a number of BCA officials have chosen not to work on this election. Their names are still being maintained on the list. Ms. Kinville also noted there is a shortage of front desk workers. Ms. Vera then moved to approve the presiding officers and election officials for the May 28th elections as presented. Ms. Riehle seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 5. Approve list of voters removed from checklist since last election: BOARD OF CIVIL AUTHORITY 19 MAY 2020 PAGE 2 Ms. Vera moved to approve the list of voters removed from the checklist since the last election. Mr. Maurice Mahoney seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 6. Election Training: Ms. Kinville noted that this is a one-item vote which will be tabulator counted. Ballots will just have to be removed from the machines and put into bags and sealed. There will be no provisional ballots. With the revised flow of voters to maintain social distancing, District 7-2 and 7-3’s checklist will be combined into one list with one check-in table. Front desk workers will have to mark off early ballots on the checklist. To date, there are 2400 early ballots received (the total for the March vote was 2200). City Clerk staff will fill in where needed to facilitate the process. Ms. Kinville did not think there would be many same-day registrations. At the end of the night, 3 tapes should be run from the tabulators. 7. Protection of Election Workers and voters during COVID-19: Ms. Kinville advised that there will be masks, sanitizers, face shields, and gloves available. The Highway Department will set up plastic sheeting to keep voters and workers separated. There will be a one-way-in and one-way-out flow of traffic with no “crossings.” Tabulators will be located near the allowable exit. Only one voter at a time will be allowed at a booth; the other 3 sections will be cordoned off. There will be 6-foot markers on the floor to keep voters separated. There will also be appropriate signage. Voters will be asked to use their own pens, but pens will be available for those who don’t bring a pen. Regarding masks, Ms. Kinville stressed that a person cannot be denied the right to vote if they do not put on a mask. An alternative method of voting will have to be decided upon for those people. The city will provide one-time use masks, and there will be someone to monitor the distribution of these. Mr. Taylor noted that the City of South Burlington and the City of Burlington are requiring masks in all city buildings. He then proposed and read a Resolution (attached hereto) similar to the Resolution passed by the City Council. He stressed the need to protect people. BOARD OF CIVIL AUTHORITY 19 MAY 2020 PAGE 3 Ms. Vera said she supported the Resolution as the “new normal” and as an opportunity to teach a lesson in civic engagement. Mr. Hutchins said that the right to vote is a guarantee and that people cannot be prevented from voting if they refuse to wear a mask. Members then suggested that for those who refuse to wear a mask, an “absentee” ballot can be brought to them and then brought back into the polling place without the voter entering the building. Members also favored a strong information campaign on Front Porch Forum, the city’s website, etc., to let voters know of the mask requirement. Mr. Maurice Mahoney then moved to approve the proposed Resolution. Ms. Vera seconded. The motion passed unanimously by a rollcall vote of members present. 8. Report of seals attached to election tabulating machines by Clerk’s staff after testing Ms. Kinville reported that she and Ms. Woodward, a City Clerk’s office staff member tested and affixed to the machines the following seal numbers: 7-1 #1229505 7-2 & 7-3 #1229600 7-4 #1049309 spare machine #1229598 As there was no further business to come before the Board, Mr. Chittenden moved to adjourn. Mr. Taylor seconded. The motion passed with all present voting in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 7:04 p.m. ______________________________ Clerk BE IT RESOLVED, that any voter, election official or member of the public entering a Polling location or building containing a polling location must wear a PPE face covering or respirator that covers at least their mouth and nose BE IT Further Resolved, That the City Clerk put in place an alternative way for people to cast their vote if they refuse to wear a PPE face covering as referenced above. The process shall be if someone refuses to cover their face, the entrance doorway election official will contact the presiding officer and give the voters name and address. The presiding officer or an election official will then give the name to the check-in election official who will mark the voters name off as receiving a ballot and the presiding officer or an election official, along with the front door official will hand the ballot to the voter who is waiting outside the building along with an absentee’s certificate envelope. Once the ballot is voted, the voter shall place the ballot inside the certificate envelope and SIGN and date it before being handing it to the election official at the entrance doorway. The election official can deliver it to the check-in table or call the presiding officer to retrieve it and to hand to the check-in table who then follows the process of an absentee ballot being brought to the polls. The requirements of this resolution may be amended by the Vermont Secretary of State as may be determined necessary.