Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES-2020-09-28 MINUTES OF THE ELECTION COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LIVONIA, MICHIGAN A meeting of the Election Commission of the City of Livonia, Michigan, was held on Monday, September 28, 2020, at the Livonia City Hall, 33000 Civic Center Drive, Livonia, Michigan at 3:06 p.m., at which time and place the following members of said Commission were present: Present: Maureen Miller Brosnan, Mayor Paul Bernier, City Attorney Susan Nash, City Clerk Also Present: Lori Miller, Deputy City Clerk Susan Nash assumed the duties as Chairperson of the Election Commission. Chairperson Nash indicated there is proposed legislature in Lansing that will allow for the opening of absentee ballot envelopes the day before the election. The law is very specific on timeline and all ballots must stay in the secrecy sleeves. However, simply opening the large quantity of envelopes the day before will allow the Counting Boards to start immediately upon arrival on election day to start processing ballots and there time will not be wasted opening envelopes. Chairperson Nash explained the Bureau of Elections provided information to Clerks throughout the State about available grant funding to help off-set the additional costs to run the Presidential election given the increased volume and heightened security surrounding absentee ballots. Livonia applied for the grant funding and was awarded the sum of $142,153.96 from the Center for Tech and Civic Life and the purpose of the meeting today was to accept those funds and discuss how the money should be allocated. She indicated a police officer or reserve officer will need to be at the old court building all day Monday, 11/02/20, while the envelopes are being opened and another officer(s) will need to stay overnight to provide security, either inside or outside of the building until 7:00 a.m. on election day. She indicated perception about security is critical this year. Chairperson Nash inquired if the election could be run out of the Senior Center instead of the old court building. She expressed the Senior Center would provide multiple rooms for the six (6) Counting Boards and a separate area for Counting Board members to eat. This was a concern and complaint for workers at the August election and she thought this may alleviate social distancing concerns as there will be at least 12- 16 additional inspectors. Mayor Brosnan inquired about the status of the ballot drop boxes. Chairperson Nash stated two were received from the County, but she was very concerned Minutes of the Election Commission Meeting of September 28, 2020 Page 2 about their security and how they would be emptied properly and timely if they were not on the Civic campus. Chairperson Nash indicated residents know the red mailbox is out in front of City Hall and it is very secure. Mayor Brosnan expressed she thought it may be disingenuous to not use the two additional ballot boxes at off-site locations when that was the intent. Chairperson Nash indicated many surrounding communities are not using the drop-boxes due to security and logistics as far as emptying them throughout the day and on election night. She indicated her department simply did not have enough staffing to empty additional off-site locations without somehow being misconstrued by the public. Chairperson Nash indicated she would contact Wayne County to see if there were stipulations on where the ballot drop-boxes must be placed, but she would prefer to put one in the Lobby at City Hall and one outside City Hall, near the red mailbox. Mayor Brosnan indicated everyone has the same goal, to run a secure election for all our residents. She expressed we are working against the public in general that is trying to create and instill fear and make our residents overly concerned about the security of the election. She stated many will be looking at a large community such as Livonia to see how the security aspect is addressed locally, as well as at the federal level. Mayor Brosnan inquired how the ballots are secured after the election. Chairperson Nash indicated the ballots are returned to City Hall, sealed up and locked in the election room, locked within the building. Chairperson Nash indicated the County does not wrap up their canvass for 10 business days after the election so no seals are broken and no ballots are touched until after the County has finished. Mayor Brosnan inquired what were the security needs after the election day. Chairperson Nash indicated she was more concerned about having sufficient police support on election day. She would like to have an increased police presence throughout the community with greater attention given to the areas near polling locations, without having a patrol car sitting outside every location. She indicated she would like to work out that type of security as we get closer to election day to ensure that no voter feels we are trying to suppress their vote or intimidated by police presence, but did think it would be prudent to have additional officers on patrol that day. Mayor Brosnan indicated her Communications Team was prepared and put together a plan to get the information pushed out to our residents via social media, website, etc. as soon as possible. She encouraged Chairperson Nash to make it a point to sit down and go over the plan with the team as it was one of the components listed in the grant funding requested and her team was ready to help out in any way needed. Chairperson Nash indicated a large component of the grant funding requested involved hazard pay for all precinct and Counting Board workers. The rate of hazard pay was set by the grant as $100.00 per person and she felt if the Counting Board members were required to work through the night and into the next day, they should receive twice that amount. She indicated it was requested in the grant application and gave Livonia more power to compete with other communities such as Detroit, who had raised their pay rates substantially and is hurting our recruitment efforts. The Commission discussed how this would affect those only working a half-day on election and the Minutes of the Election Commission Meeting of September 28, 2020 Page 3 members agreed those working a half-day would be entitled to $50.00 (one-half of the $100 hazard pay). Mayor Brosnan indicated she would have Josh Sabo set up a meeting with Chairperson Nash to put together a communication plan to do a press release and social media blitz to get the hazard pay information out to the public to increase interest and response for election inspectors to ensure the polls are adequately staffed on election day. The Commission agreed to accept the grant funding from the non-profit organization Center for Tech and Civic Life in the amount of $142,153.96. Further, the Commission agreed the monies should be spent as allocated and outlined in the grant application in the various categories submitted. The Commission agreed security would be a top priority for this election, which was the intent of the grant as offered to municipalities. Upon a motion by Commission Brosnan, supported by Commissioner Bernier, and unanimously adopted, this meeting of the Election Commission of the City of Livonia was adjourned at 4:36 p.m. on September 28, 2020. Susan M. Nash Livonia City Clerk xc: Members (3), File