SPECIAL COMMISSION MEETING
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2005
PRESENT: ROBERT L. BAILEY, PRESIDENT
W, SCOTT BIAS, COMMISSIONER
WILLIAM T. WATSON, COUNTY ATTORNEY
STEPHEN ZOELLER, COUNTY MANAGER
SHARON ROSS, ASSISTANT COUNTY
MANAGER
FOR BILLABLES AND PAYABLES
CHRIS TATUM, ASSISTANT COUNTY
MANAGER
FOR PERSONNEL AND PURCHASING
ABSENT: NANCY CARTMILL, COMMISSIONER
(COMMISSIONER CARTMILL
TELECONFERENCED INTO
THE MEETING)
Robert L. Bailey, President, called the Special Meeting of the Cabell County Commission to order at 10:00 a.m.
#307 DISCUSSION/ACTION
RE:
SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELOR FOR CABELL
COUNTY’S DAY REPORT CENTER
Chris Tatum, Assistant County Manager, stated the hiring committee had unanimously recommended Mary Klein for the Substance Abuse Counselor at the Day Report Center. Mr. Tatum further stated that Ms. Klein would be a full time employee, effective November 1, 2005, with a pay rate of $32,000.00 per year plus benefits.
W. Scott Bias, Commissioner, moved to approve the employment of Mary E. Klein for the Cabell County Day Report Center, effective November 1, 2005, with a pay rate of $32,000.00 per year plus benefits. Robert L. Bailey, President, seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.
#308 DISCUSSION/ACTION
RE: CABELL COUNTY’S VOTING EQUIPMENT
Stephen Zoeller, County Manager, stated that the Commission had two options to consider in their decision regarding voting equipment the county would use, whether it would be the Optical Scan or the I-Vontronic the county was currently using. Mr. Zoeller further stated the Secretary of State would provide free of cost the Optical Scan System and if the county should chose to go with the I-Vontronic then the Secretary of State would provide that amount of money towards the touch screen.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2005
PAGE TWO
Mr. Zoeller stated that in discussions with Election System & Software (ES&S) they agreed to adapt the I-Vontronic to make them compliant with state and federal election laws and HAVA requirements. Mr. Zoeller further stated that Election Systems & Software indicated they would adapt the I-Vontronic which were currently on loan to the county.
Mr. Zoeller explained that if new touch screens were purchased the cost would be $552,000.00; therefore, ES&S was willing to give the county $286,000.00 to update the loaner machines thus leaving $266,000.00 for the county to make up the difference. Mr. Zoeller went on to say the county would also avoid the cost of about $20,000.00 in the next election since the Secretary of State would pay to program the machines, leaving a difference of $246,000.00. Mr. Zoeller also stated the county, in the next three election cycles, would avoid $200,000.00 in cost of printing the ballots for the Optical Scan, should the Commission decide on the touch screens.
Mr. Zoeller stated the Commission could apply for a loan of $133,000.00 and also apply for a grant in the amount of $133,000.00 to pay for the I-Vontronic, although there was no assurance the county would receive the grant or the loan. Mr. Zoeller stated, however, he believed the county would probably receive the interest free loan and possibly a grant for half that amount.
Mr. Zoeller informed the Commission that the loan committee would notify them within forty-five days of its action, therefore, the county would have the option to reconsider any action taken today.
Nancy Cartmill, Commissioner, stated she was concerned because the Commission still did not have an agreement in writing with ES&S.
Mr. Zoeller stated he was concerned also and he believed the Commission would not send a document to the Secretary of State until a written agreement was received from ES&S out-lining their financial commitment.
Karen Cole, County Clerk, expressed her concern over the Optical Scan system not meeting HAVA requirements without purchasing an M-100 Precinct Scanner which would alert voters when they over-voted. Mrs. Cole went on to say that she believed if the county should go with the Optical Scan System, the county would need to purchase an M-100 Precinct Scanner for each precinct which would notify the voter of an over-vote, at a cost of $4,100.00 per unit. Mrs. Cole went on to say she was concerned that if the M-100 Precinct Scanner was not purchased there could possibly be a law suit filed putting the county at great risk.
Adell Chandler, Circuit Clerk, stated she was concerned because the M-100 Precinct Scanner only showed the first over-vote and if the voter should have more then one over-vote, the ballot would need to be rescanned.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2005
PAGE THREE
Mr. Zoeller informed the Commission that the Secretary of State said the county could request a deferred payment until 2008 when the Vontronic System would be paid off and also could possibly request a ten year payment plan.
W. Scott Bias, Commissioner, moved that the Cabell County Commission submit to the West Virginia Secretary of State that they were opting to select the touch screen I-Vontronic voting machines, and will communicate that selection on the forms provided by the Secretary of State and that the Commission notify the Secretary of State that the county does not plan to purchase new machines, but to modify the existing I-Vontronic on loan from Election Systems & Software, so they comply with all state and federal laws, including the voter verifiable paper trail and HAVA requirements and that the Commission receive from ES&S, by Friday October 14, 2005, their financial commitment, as verbally represented, that the cost to the county would not exceed approximately $266,000.00. Robert L. Bailey, President, seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.
Robert L. Bailey, President,
adjourned the Special Meeting at 10:44 a.m., until the next regular scheduled
meeting of Thursday, October 20, 2005, at 10:00 a.m.
_______________________________________
PRESIDENT, COUNTY COMMISSION
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