HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Board of Civil Authority - 03/30/2017BOARD OF CIVIL AUTHORITY 30 MARCH 2017
The South Burlington Board of Civil Authority held a mee ng on Thursday, 30 March 2017, at 6:00 p.m., in
the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street.
MEMBERS PRESENT: P. Taylor, Chair; D. Kinville, C. Shaw, A. Cli , T. Chi enden, M. Emery, P. Mahoney, T.
Harrington, J. Kirchick, A. Milot, P. Nowak, B. Nowak, T. Barri , L. Vera, M. St. Germain, P. Benner
1. Agenda Review: Addi ons, dele ons or changes in the order of Agenda items:
No changes were made to the agenda.
2. Comments and Ques ons from the public not related to the Agenda:
No issues were raised.
3. Approve minutes of 27 February 2017:
Mr. Shaw moved to approve the Minutes of 27 February 2017 as wri en. Ms. Cli seconded. Mo on passed
unanimously.
4. Approve Presiding Officers & Elec on Officials for April 6th Elec on:
Mr. Mahoney moved to approve Ms. Kinville, Ms. Harrington, Mr. Taylor, and Mr. Shaw as presiding officers for
the April 6th elec on. Mr. Barri seconded. Mo on passed unanimously.
Mr. Shaw moved to approve the list of Assistant Elec on Officials as presented with the correc on of Linda
Delaricheliere’s name. Ms. Cli seconded. Mo on passed unanimously.
Ms. Kinville noted that elec on workers have received no pay raises for 16 years. She felt this needed to be
addressed.
5. Elec on Training Including Elec on Day Voter Registra on Review:
Ms. Kinville said there is not expected to be a big turnout. There will not be tabulators, so votes will have to be
hand counted. She noted that technically this is a con nua on of the March elec on, so absentee/early ballots
were sent out to the 700 people who got them on Town Mee ng Day.
Same day voter registra on will be in effect. At the March elec on, there were 10 people who registered. A
specific registra on person will not be assigned, but a BCA member will be available to handle any registra ons.
BOARD OF CIVIL AUTHORITY
30 MARCH 2017
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At the end of the night, there will be 4 people at each loca on to count votes. Ms. Kinville suggested sor ng
ballots into “yes” and “no” piles and having 2 people count each pile. A tally sheet will be provided and must
be signed by the people who count the votes.
Mr. Taylor noted that the public does have the right to observe the coun ng process.
Mr. Taylor suggested that officials check periodically that no elec on literature has been le in the polling
booths.
Mr. Taylor noted that in March, the School District wanted to do a survey, and he made the decision that it had
to be done outside the building because technically that whole building is the polling place. Bake sales are OK,
however, within the building.
6. Set parameters and authorize City Clerk’s Staff to Perform bi-annual purging of Checklist:
Ms. Kinville explained the process. She said that purging is important because the checklist can get so inflated
that it throws off percentages. The ques on s ll remains as to how far back to go to challenge whether a voter
s ll lives in the city. Ms. Vera said she would suggest challenging a person who had not voted in the primary or
presiden al elec on in a presiden al year.
Mr. Taylor noted that the city is no fied if a person changes his/her address at the DMV.
Ms. Vera moves that if it is determined that a voter hasn’t voted in the last presiden al primary through the
most recent elec on, that person should get a postcard ques oning his/her residency. Ms. Emery seconded.
Mo on passed unanimously.
7. City Request for Commi ee and Board Work Plans:
Mr. Taylor noted that the Chairs and Vice Chairs of city commi ees have been mee ng. The city would like
work plans from almost all commi ees; these work plans should be ed to the Comprehensive Plan.
BOARD OF CIVIL AUTHORITY
30 MARCH 2017
PAGE 3
With the BCA and Board of Abatement, the board’s ac vi es don’t relate to the Comprehensive Plan but to
State regula ons. Mr. Taylor noted that he has come up with a list of goals which the BCA can address a er the
elec on. He will e-mail this list to members to consider and comment on.
Ms. Nowak asked the cost of the special elec on. Mr. Taylor asked if the School District contributes to the cost.
Ms. Kinville es mated it will cost close to $3,000 to $4,000.
8. Discussion of Legisla ve Bills of Interest:
Members review the list of legisla ve bills. One bill would allow towns to fill a vacant City Clerk’s posi on by
appointment. This has passed the House and is being considered by the State Senate.
Ms. Kinville drew a en on to the list of issues on House bill H.514. These include establishing a ghter
defini on of “confiden al informa on,” allowing a voter to sign more than one pe on, a process for spoiled
ballots, modifying the language for requiring 2 or more officials from different par es to address a situa on to
add the words “to the extent prac cable under the circumstances,” and removing the requirement that
absentee ballots be “sealed” in the envelope.
9. Other Business:
Ms. Cli noted signs in the city to “Vote Yes” and asked if the signs should say who is paying for them. Ms.
Nowak said that is only required if the cost of the signs is more than $400.
As there was no further business to come before the Board, Ms. Nowak moved to adjourn. Mr. St. Germain
seconded. Mo on passed unanimously, and the mee ng was adjourned at 7:25 p.m.
_________________________________
Clerk