HCBOE Board Meeting Minutes - January 18, 2012 - Regular MeetingHARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS
MEETING MINUTES
JANUARY 18, 2012
11:30 A.M.
Present were Chairman Walter Massey, Secretary James Currin and Member Louise Taylor.
Also present were Claire Jones, Interim Director, Trinity Faucett, HR Director, and Claudette
Williams, Elections Specialist/Deputy, as well as Kenneth Cole, Coats Councilman, and Walter
Weeks, Mayor of Coats.
Chairman Massey called the meeting to order at 11:40 a.m.
Minutes:
The Board reviewed the minutes from 12-17-11 and 1-6-12. Mr. Currin moved to approve the
minutes. Mrs. Taylor seconded. Approved without dissent.
Business:
The Board discussed a copy of a letter received from the Town of Lillington, a letter written to
the State Board of Elections concerning the polling place location in Central Harnett. Claire
Jones reported that the Lillington Town Council had asked that the Central Harnett precinct be
moved to the new Lillington Community Building. Louise Taylor stated that it's unlikely to be
changed before the Primary Election. Jim Currin made a motion to invite the Lillington Town
council to the next Board meeting to discuss their concerns. Louise Taylor seconded the motion.
Approved without dissent.
Kenneth Cole and Water Weeks spoke about their concerns with the new location of the Coats
polling place. They contended that the Coats Elementary School was not a good choice for the
precinct. Mr. Weeks said that the view of the polling place was blocked by the busses and
signage was not visible. Mr. Currin asked where they would propose moving the polling place.
Mr. Cole recommended that it be moved back to the Coats Community Building. They also
recommended the Coats Senior Center or the Coats Fire Department. Mr. Weeks said that the
town had spent a lot of money to make the Coats Community Building accessible. Mrs. Jones
said that Sherre Toler (former director) had looked into why the busses were not moved on that
Election Day, as they were supposed to have been. Mrs. Taylor said that the Coats Fire
Department was rejected as a suitable polling place because it was not completely handicapped
accessible, including the restrooms.
Walter Massey stated that changing a polling place location is a process, and that the board will
go out and look at the other locations. Mr. Currin stated that it's unlikely that it could be changed
for the May 8th Primary and that it would undesirable to change polling places between a primary
and the general election. Therefore no change could be made in 2012.
Mrs. Jones informed The Board that she attended the County Commissioners Work Session on
January 18, 2012. She presented a budget amendment requesting $6,000 to be added to the
budget for the Primary Election. The Commissioners put the issue on their consent agenda. They
will vote on it at their next regular meeting on January 23, 2012.
Mrs. Jones updated the board on the progress of the redistricting. The office is on schedule with
the changes and preparing for filing next month. Absentee ballot requests are already coming in
from voters.
Mrs. Jones stated that she and Ms. Williams attended a district meeting held on January 12,
2012, where the topic was Military Absentee Ballots. Veronica Degraffenreid from the State
Board was the guest speaker.
Mr. Massey asked the other guest who came in later if he had anything to say and to state his
name if he wanted to. He stated that he was Melvin Green, that he lives in the Anderson Creek
area, and that he was "just listening."
Mrs. Taylor made a motion to invite Mrs. Faucett to the closed session. Mr. Currin seconded.
Approved without dissent.
Mr. Currin moved to go into closed session to discuss personnel issues. Mrs. Taylor seconded.
Approved without dissent.
Mr. Massey, Mr. Currin, Mrs. Taylor and Ms. Faucett went into closed session at 12:15 p.m.
until 1:13 p.m.
Mr. Currin moved to suspend the closed session until January 26, 2012 at 11:30 a.m. at the
Harnett County Human Resources' office. Mrs. Taylor seconded. Approved without dissent.
The next meeting of the Board will be its regular monthly meeting, February 1, 2012, at 11:30
a.m.
Mr. Currin moved to adjourn. Mrs. Taylor seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 1:14 p.m.
by:
Walter Masseyhairman
es Currin, ecretary
Louise Taylor, tuber