8/16/2012 - West Side Leader
     

Questions remain about off-site voting

DOWNTOWN AKRON — Summit County Council adopted the Board of Elections’ (BOE) budget for the upcoming presidential election Aug. 13.

Now the BOE and county officials are just waiting on tie-breaking decisions on several items before the start of early voting Oct. 2.

Council adopted the BOE’s nearly $6.2 million budget for 2012 after hearing from BOE Director Joe Masich and Deputy Director Kim Zurz.

The amount is more than the $4.7 million originally offered by the Executive’s Office but less than the $9.3 million the BOE initially requested for this year, which BOE officials said will require a high level of funding due to the presidential election.

“The administration believes the election can be carried out with this amount,” said Jason Dodson, chief of staff for County Executive Russ Pry.

Zurz said the BOE will do its best with the budget amount but noted there is a chance the board would need more funding in case of a problem.

“We hope to think we got all our T’s crossed and I’s dotted,” she said.

Masich said he and Zurz are relatively new to the job but are trying to run the office as frugally as possible.

“We’re doing our best to watch every dime,” he said. “If I can wrap up half a million dollars and give it back at the end of the year, I will. I’m going to try to run the board on exactly what you approved tonight.”

While the budget is set, there are still some unknowns about the upcoming General Election. Masich said the Ohio Secretary of State’s (SOS) Office has been asked to weigh in on several tie votes, including one on whether the county should have an off-site voting location to accommodate early voters.

Dodson said the administration offered the BOE $50,000 to use for an off-site location, but the board deadlocked on the issue of using a site other than the BOE office.

As for cost-cutting measures, Masich noted the BOE has reduced the number of precincts from 475 to 298. He and Zurz also are evaluating polling locations and plan to finalize changes soon. He added that all registered voters would receive postcards notifying them of their polling location and precinct. Poll workers also will be educated so they can help voters who are confused about their polling place.

Councilwoman Tamela Lee (D-District 5) raised concerns with the many changes for voters this year.

“As guardians of the public faith, the most sacred thing we have is to vote,” she said.

Lee also called the postage that voters using absentee ballots must pay to mail them a “poll tax,” though Masich said voters can hand-deliver absentee ballots or just vote on voting day.

The councilwoman also expressed concerns that the SOS has said early voting can take place from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. only. She said that is being arbitrarily applied throughout the state.

In other business, Council adopted a resolution to allow the county’s Department of Development to oversee the Summit County Land Reutilization Corp. land bank. The action allows the county to oversee the program with the use of existing staff.

The county will receive $3.8 million from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office to demolish abandoned structures countywide as part of the program. That amount has been matched by communities taking part.

According to information provided during last week’s committee meetings, Akron will receive $4 million, which will allow the city to address between 529 and 794 vacant properties. Copley will receive $141,758 to address between 19 and 29 structures; Fairlawn $55,387 to address between seven and 11; Cuyahoga Falls $53,014 to address between seven and 11; Norton $55,335 to address between seven and 11 properties; Bath $17,500 to address two or three properties; and Richfield Village, Richfield Township, Boston Township and Peninsula Village $7,500 to address one property in each community.

Also Monday, Council adopted a resolution accepting the Ridgewood Crossing No. 2 Replat on Ridgewood Road near Interstate 77 in Copley. A Conrad’s Tire location is planned for the area, according to the legislation.

Council will meet Aug. 20 at 4:30 p.m. for committee meetings in Council Chambers on the seventh floor of the Ohio Building, 175 S. Main St.

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