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Home My WebLink About03-04-2025 HCBOE Board Meeting Minutes - Regular MeetingHARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS REGULAR MEETING MARCH 04, 2025 5:00 P.M. Present: Board Chairwoman Allison Fenderson, Secretary Jim Currin, Members: Betsy McCormick, Bill McNutt, Lewis Bell (via phone) and Director Claire Jones and Assistant Director Shannon Cole Also present: See sign in sheet Ms. Fenderson called the meeting to order at 5:01 pm with a moment of silence and Pledge of Allegiance. Public Comment: No speakers Minutes: The Board reviewed the minutes from February 04, 2025, and February 18, 2025. Mr. Currin moved to approve the minutes. Mr. McNutt seconded. Approved without dissent. Business: Mrs. Jones furnished the board with the final draft of the opposing resolution and 2 cover letter drafts to accompany the opposing resolution. Ms. Fenderson presented changes to cover letter #2 of correcting an error in paragraph three, adding a bullet stating, "Anytime a polling place is moved, you lose seven (7) percent of the voters, which could equate to voter suppression", and updating the page numbers. Mrs. McCormick moved to adopt cover letter #2 with changes. Mr. McNutt second. Approved without dissent. Mrs. Jones presented the Board with a new map for the proposed splitting and merging of precincts. Mrs. Jones explained the changes are to reflect concerns brought up during the public input sessions held in February. After reviewing the updated maps and data concerning possible splitting and merging of precinct. The Board agreed the best options are not to merge East and West Averasboro into one precinct; not to merge Central Harnett Neills Creek and Central Harnett Lillington into one precinct; move all incorporated areas of Lillington (in Anderson Creek) into Central Harnett Lillington precinct; split Barbecue; split Anderson. Mrs. McCormick moved to approve the new proposed map, attached hereto. Mr. Currin second. After discussion the motion was amended to approve the new proposed map for a public input session to be held at Anderson Creek Emergency Service on March 18, 2025, at 6:00 pm and to hold a special meeting afterward to approve the changes. Mrs. Jones presented to the Board a draft of the 2025/2026 fiscal year budget. After some discussion, Mr. McNutt moved to approve the budget. Mr. Currin second. Approved without dissent. Mrs. McCormick moved to go into closed session per GS 143-318.11(A) to discuss personnel. Mr. Currin seconded, Approved without dissent. The Board went into closed session at 6:25 pm. Mrs. McCormick moved to return to open session. Mr. Currin second. Approved without dissent. The Board returned to open session at 7:02pm. With no further business to discuss, Mr. Currin moved to adjourn. Mr. McNutt seconded. Approved without dissent. The meeting adjourned at 7:03 pm. The next meeting of the Board will be a special meeting on March 18, 2025, at 7:00 pm, following the public input meeting at 6:00 pm. Approved by: r�,mow—"g H111SOn Fenderson, Chairwoman sj., d -&. (Z'/n,, C//' Betsy McCo ck, Member cNutt, Member SIGN -IN SHEET Harnett County Board of Elections Meeting Date: 5 - V 25 308 W. Duncan Street Lillington, NC 27546 Meeting Type: IZ f t; Print Name Position/Title (if applicable) Address Phone Number Jw-J �1 �/�/ I �r pp CR. Y opbfree Cr Fv/_' Harnett COUNTY NORTH c n R o r N a Harnett County Board of Elections 308 W Duncan Street P.O. Box 356 Lillington, NC 27546 Phone: 910-893-7553 Fax: 910-893-4655 w .hamett.org/elections hamettboe@hamett.org Harnett County Board of Elections Response to the Harnett County Board of Commissioners: Joint Resolution by the Harnett County Board of Commissioners and Harnett County Board of Education requesting a Local Statutory Act that would remove public school buildings as voting places Harnett County Board of Commissioners has created a Joint Resolution with the Board of Education to remove any voting from public schools without any consideration from the Board of Elections. The State Board of Elections, who is charged with carrying out local elections throughout the state of North Carolina, was completely left out of the dialogue. Once brought to the Board of Elections' attention, all members attended the County Commissioner Meetings and the Board of Education meetings to voice our concerns. Members of the community also showed up to vocalize their outrage for how the Board of Commissioners have handled this situation. Board of Election members have been present in opposition to this Resolution for several reasons: • The schools have remained safe and a pillar in the community for voting activities without incident • Bylaw, the Board of Elections has legal ground to utilize the schools for voting and continues to work with the schools each election without any issues. • The Office of the Board of Elections follows the NC General Statutes and has a working relationship with the schools • The schools in Harnett County have space, ADA accessibility, and ample parking to handle voters, whereas churches, fire stations, and other buildings may not have the size or ADA accessibility • Members of the community are used to using the schools that are in their communities and don't have many if any complaints about the use of their local schools • Utilizing schools in the community is an important opportunity for students to learn the importance of voting and have an impactful meaning on their choices to participate in future elections strong roots • new growth 1 I P a g e Harnett County Board of Elections When it comes to safety at our polling locations, it is the duty of every member of the Board of Elections, County Commissioner and Board of Education, and the schools to work together to ensure the safety of all elections, no matter where they are held Anytime a polling place is moved, you lose seven (7) percent of the voters, which could equate to voter suppression By law, the Harnett County Board of Elections and (office) has overseen all elections in a fair, equitable and safe manner under North Carolina's General Statutes that affords us the legal right to do SO. The Harnett County Board Members and members of the community are asking that you do not accept this Resolution as it may damage the voters of Harnett County, where we live by "Strong Roots, New Growth"! 21Pagc. Harnett COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA Harnett County Board of Elections 308 W Duncan Street P.O. Box 356 Lillington, NC 27546 Phone: 910-693-7553 Fax: 910-893-4656 w .hamett.org/electlons hamettboe@hamett.org RESPONSE TO JOINT RESOLUTION BY THE HARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND HARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION REQUESTING A LOCAL STATUTORY ACT THAT WOULD REMOVE SCHOOL BUILDINGS AS VOTING PLACES WHEREAS, pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163-128, the Harnett County Board of Elections (hereinafter referred to as the "Board of Elections") retains the sole authority to establish, alter, discontinue, or create new election precincts or voting places as it may deem expedient; and WHEREAS, pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163-129(a), the Board of Elections retains the sole authority to demand and use any school or other State, county, or municipal building, or a part thereof, or any other building, or a part thereof, which is supported or maintained, in whole or in part by or through tax revenues provided; and WHEREAS, the Board of Elections uses multiple Harnett County schools as voting places for early and election day voting.; and WHEREAS, the use of Harnett County schools as voting places for early voting may be disruptive to normal school operations; and WHEREAS, NCGS 163-166.35 provides a procedure by which the Board of Education can object to the use of a location as an early voting site and the Board of Education has never made such an objection; and WHEREAS, the Board of Elections and the Board of Education have worked together for years to provide safe and convenient voting locations for the voters of Harnett County; WHEREAS, the Board of Elections has agreed to continue to use its best efforts to use public or publicly funded buildings other than schools or to provide or procure by lease other suitable structures, or parts thereof, in which early voting may be conducted in Harnett County. strong roots • new growth 3 111 age Harnett C O U N T Y NOR-N CAROL'NA. Harnett County Board of Elections NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Harnett County Board of Elections requests that the requested local act NOT be adopted as the stated concerns of the Board of Commissioners are already addressed in NCGS 163-166.35; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Response to the Joint Resolution be forwarded to those General Assembly Representatives who serve Harnett County. Adopted this the 4`h day of March 2025 by the Harnett County Board of Elections. HARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS (2e )ffty1 - ah Allison Fenderson, Chair Secretary Leers Bell �i�* William McNutt � Betsy McCormick 41Pagc