COUNCIL OF ELECTION OFFICIALS

MEETING MINUTES

February 17, 2016

At a regular meeting of the Council of Election Officials held on February 17, 2016 at 9:20 a.m. at the Delta Township Hall, Lansing Michigan:

Chairman Lauri Braid (Shiawassee County) called the meeting to order.

County Clerk’s present:

Lauri Braid (Shiawassee), Kristen Millard (Montcalm), Tim Snow (Kalamazoo)

Sharon Tyler (Berrien), Nancy Waters (Muskegon)

Local Clerk’s present:

Sarah Bydalek (City of Walker), Mary Clark (Delta Township), Terri Kowal (Auburn Hills)

Jan Roncelli (Bloomfield Twp), Chris Swope (City of Lansing), Ann Bollin (Brighton Twp)

Also present:

Chris Thomas, Sally William, Melissa Malerman (BOE) and Bill Zaagman (GCSI),

Thom Frazier (MTA)

Justin Roebuck (Ottawa County), Steve Daitch (Ottawa County), Cheryl Kelly (Mason County, Terry Kubasiak (Branch County), Moore (Crawford County), Lisa Brown (Oakland County), Todd Schmitz (Macomb County, Diana Bosworth (Eaton County), Mary Hollinrake (Kent County)

Linda Kingston (City of Clio), Dan Kasunic (City of Kentwood), Lisa Hathaway Grosse Pointe Woods), Debbie Miller (Rose Twp),

It was moved by Sharon Tyler, seconded by Kristin Millard, to approve the minutes of the October 21, 2015 meeting. Motion carried.

  1. BOE Update – Chris Thomas
  1. Chris Thomas expressed concern for all clerks to be sure they have enough ballots for the Presidential Primary Election. It is anticipated that Michigan could be a very important state with a higher than usual voter turnout.
  1. New Equipment Funding: Current Projections

30 Million HAVA Funds

10 Million – Allocated from new FY Budget

5 Million – Allocated from SB13

5 Million – Needed from Local/County Obligations

Discussion was held stating the need for each municipality to contribute toward new equipment (estimating $1000.00 per precinct) and to also plan now to set aside funds for new equipment ten years from now, since there will no longer be HAVA funds to help with this cost.

  1. The RFP was sent out again to vendors and is due back March 15, 2016. The original RFP cost came back at 60 Million and the BOE is hoping the new RFP comes back at 50 Million. The BOE will then evaluate and review the RFP’s and plans to hold “certification testing” and “mock election” in May 2016 with the anticipation of the project being complete in late September.
  1. Discussion took place to consider working with the BOE, County and Local Clerk’s to create a Resolution which each county would have signed by each municipality to support contributing $1000.00 per precinct toward the new equipment.
  1. Sarah Bydalek, City of Walker, will work with BOE and a sub-committee of local and county clerks to create the Resolution for each county clerk to use.

The plan is to have this Resolution in place in June 2016, so County Clerks can get needed local support by September 2016.

  1. Legislative Update – Bill Zaagman
  1. Secure No Reason Bill will probably not move forward in 2016.
  1. SB 571 (Public Act 269 of 2015), currently has an injunction by Court Order, HB 5219 passed the House on 2/23/2016. HB 5219 ensures that local entities can provide factual information to residents about local ballot questions, while better protecting taxpayer dollars from being used to influence voters.

Next CEO meeting: 9:30 a.m., March 16, 2016 at Delta Township.

Meeting adjourned at 10:25 a.m.

Sarah Bydalek, Secretary

City of Walker