[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6278286,"mediaKeyId","2641581-6c859866a7d6e07a6f229118241ad4c7","parentId",2641581,"title","Judge Ridge finds no contempt or bad faith in Michelle Previn case, board member reports","audioSeconds",95,"startMs",1236000,"endMs",1331000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2641581-6c859866a7d6e07a6f229118241ad4c7&start=1236&end=1331","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2641581-6c859866a7d6e07a6f229118241ad4c7/thumbnail_1236000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6278286/Erie-County/Pennsylvania/Judge-Ridge-finds-no-contempt-or-bad-faith-in-Michelle-Previn-case-board-member-reports","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278286-cec358a5e73be76c7733eacb02790797/orig.mp4?Expires=1770508477&Signature=aW9Aj4B-KATmwAgs7FPOeoh~ujwHazDk3WQtMMzJJnOiH9KOv7gUcV694tZqjNZ9sUlOVTlHfRaW8ojTe5K1rhxFjEst~oz5163zJElITNDUd1qtiP2aodzwEVJI~lWDl0p-97crSoXnuV6D8g9kuYAy~L0LiLh8mMwhuzu6zqaR69IsZVb2CAe9fU1utM1GiPiMIqb~B58Ue0dUyBxUnyKiRnOMHmtzWvhRJBqMKJRhAl9GqJf3k1QZVPSKCq-6ti80ollGA5RsdfkPVRWED6yvRioEa1g-aIWUUecGDtMVRWiU7ZAqMDpBQ-5sU52XPGBJEsg1auqjVDj4KfqsRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-03-14T13:40:25Z","article","A board member told the Erie County Board of Elections on March 13 that a court decision from Judge Ridge found no contempt and no bad-faith conduct by the board in a claim brought by Michelle Previn seeking preservation and disclosure of video surveillance footage.

The board member read portions of the judge’s opinion into the record, saying the court concluded that the board did not act in willful or intentional defiance of its earlier order about custody and preservation of video surveillance recordings. The member also read that the court found county staff — including Julie Slomski (the former county council clerk) and Karen Shilcott (her successor) — had “done everything they could have reasonably done” to obtain and preserve the requested recordings.

The court opinion, as summarized aloud at the meeting, said the plaintiff failed to present evidence supporting a claim of bad faith and that the board had conducted a good-faith search with appropriate county representatives being diligent in attempts to obtain footage from other agencies and businesses. The board member who reported the decision called it “fantastic” and board members briefly acknowledged the ruling.

The board did not take formal action on the court decision during the meeting; the item was presented as an informational update and the member said he had received the opinion within the prior hour.

Ending: The board asked staff to gather additional information and return to a future meeting if more follow-up is needed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","March 13, 2025 Board of Elections Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Board member reported a court ruling that denied contempt and bad-faith findings against the board in Michelle Previn's request for video footage; the board was credited for conducting a diligent, good-faith search for the recordings.","taxTitle","Erie County, Pennsylvania","taxId",2937,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6278291,"Erie County Board of Elections authorizes return postage for mail ballots, relocates two polling places and green-lights RFP for online poll-worker training",460,132000,592000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2641581-6c859866a7d6e07a6f229118241ad4c7&start=132&end=592","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2641581-6c859866a7d6e07a6f229118241ad4c7/thumbnail_132000.jpg","/articles/6278291/Erie-County/Pennsylvania/Erie-County-Board-of-Elections-authorizes-return-postage-for-mail-ballots-relocates-two-polling-places-and-green-lights-RFP-for-online-poll-worker-training","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278291-fa20e240a25dad7e3f44e82e858571a9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770508477&Signature=XejcHACf3IFW9d68Z94q0aVKnWCsqIFbZVsiYjqUpUYQZ8ExVP7hbfxARKc~9HYgqyFzwOsi246ImSUFLnUM9j3o1Xy8yGpR9HAYzVpyViQ3Vv04BBJKAqWrgmDE02e2Va9dHxGCPR650Nhmlb7wIfhIbXCxdiD-z4APoyAjmeUCVHPNois31XlakwGcWp64L22cvigPe~KluU-8fsyPsByhtqaQaCWYOky7Z8ZdjGgLPpMWJp00b1yQYv2dHhQdYUlxpCWE9sCHuKvsWnFlPf-OXonXi-BBDzSEQvGZpOSQoNzE-wjkvi~XY4d71~jy3vVQG9QdL77pI9IGeoGn-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Erie County Board of Elections on March 13 voted to pay return postage on mail-in and absentee ballots, approved relocation of two Ward 4 polling places and authorized staff to issue a request for proposals for an online poll-worker learning-management system.

Board members said the return-postage program is intended to reduce barriers to voting, while staff emphasized the online training would supplement — not replace — hands-on, in-person poll-worker instruction.

The board discussed three separate administrative items. First, staff presented an official polling-place relocation moving Erie Ward 4 Districts 6 and 7 from Saint Andrew’s Parish Chapel Building to Strong Vincent Middle School after the Catholic diocese informed the county the chapel building may be leased and will not be available as a polling location. Board members approved the relocation by roll call.

Second, the board debated whether the county should pay postage on returned mail-in and absentee ballots. Supporters called the fee “akin to a poll tax” if voters must pay to return ballots, and said the county had used outgoing-postage funding previously. Staff said an election-integrity grant covered outgoing postage and the county would be responsible for return postage only. Staff also provided recent-volume figures: staff reported roughly 36,000 total mail-in ballots in the most recent presidential contest and said outgoing presidential-election postage cost about $22,185; the per-piece return-postage rate cited in the discussion was $0.84. After discussion, the motion to provide county-paid return postage passed 3–1. The recorded votes included yes from Mr. Copeland, Mr. Scantella and Chairman Drexel and a no vote from Ms. Showerman; one board member voiced concern that a single stamp was not a significant cost to most voters.

Third, the board considered an online learning-management solution for poll-worker training. Staff said the intent is to keep in-person, hands-on training for new workers and use the online system for refresher and recurrent modules, quick refreshers on specific topics (for example provisional ballots), and for student poll-worker participation. Staff said one vendor proposed a solution priced just over $30,000 for unlimited users, and that the county prepared an RFP to solicit competing proposals from multiple vendors. Board members agreed to authorize staff to issue the RFP and return to the board for contract approval; the authorization was approved by roll call.

The meeting also included routine business: the board approved the minutes of a prior meeting by voice/roll-call vote earlier in the session.

Quotes from the meeting reflect the split on postage and the training approach. Public commenter Fred Ottettoff urged continued in-person training, saying the hands-on instruction with the machines is valuable. “I just want to put that you’re going to continue to have in-person coworker training,” Ottettoff said. Elections staff member Karen Shilcott described the online tool as supplementary: “Really people need to attend in person, but this could be supplementary,” she said, adding vendors can convert local training materials and provide reporting metrics.

Board members asked for cost and timing details. Staff said the online system would not be ready for the primary but targeted implementation for the fall election after summer content development. Staff said election-integrity funds are eligible to pay for the online system and that because the anticipated vendor cost would exceed $25,000 the county expects to solicit competing bids.

Votes at a glance
- Approval of prior meeting minutes — motion moved and seconded; approved by roll call (unanimous as recorded).
- Polling-place relocation (Erie Ward 4, Districts 6 & 7): approved by roll call after staff explained Saint Andrew’s Parish would not be available.
- County-paid return postage for mail-in and absentee ballots: approved 3–1; recorded yes votes from Mr. Copeland, Mr. Scantella and Chairman Drexel; recorded no vote from Ms. Showerman. Staff stated the county pays only on ballots returned without a voter-supplied stamp; outgoing postage was covered by an election-integrity grant and outgoing presidential postage previously cost about $22,185.
- Authorization to issue an RFP for an online poll-worker learning-management system (to solicit vendors and return for contract approval): approved by roll call; staff to return with proposals and a recommended contract.

Ending: Board members asked staff to return with final cost estimates and implementation timelines; staff said they will build initial content over the summer with the goal of having the system ready for the fall election.","At its March 13 meeting the Erie County Board of Elections approved county-paid return postage for mail-in and absentee ballots, formally relocated two Ward 4 polling places and authorized staff to issue an RFP for an online poll-worker learning-management system; the postage measure passed 3–1 after debate over cost and voter access.","actionData","errors"]

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Judge Ridge finds no contempt or bad faith in Michelle Previn case, board member reports

Erie County Board of Elections authorizes return postage for mail ballots, relocates two polling places and green-lights RFP for online poll-worker training