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Township weighs Bethany Community Center and library as temporary election sites amid DPW construction
Summary
Officials said Sept. 8 that the county prefers the Bethany Community Center as a temporary election site while the DPW project affects town-hall facilities; the library is an alternative but would require closing services or staffing adjustments.
Township staff and the mayor told council members the county election board prefers to use the Bethany Community Center for upcoming municipal elections because the DPW construction at Town Hall limits safe space and parking.
Administrator Mark DeCarlo said Bethany is acceptable to the county but will require a negotiated fee to use the facility. He also said the library is a possible alternative, but that using the library would likely require closing library services or placing staff on special duty to safeguard materials and control access during election operations. ‘‘She has really no issue with us going over there and taking over the library for the day. But that would mean that the library would be shut down for the day and there would have to be somebody,’’ DeCarlo said.
Staff emphasized the time-sensitive nature of the decision because the county will prepare mailers, sample ballots and early-voting information shortly. The administrator said existing capital-authority guidance from financial advisors indicates election-related costs incurred because of construction can be paid from capital project funds in some circumstances, but council members said they wanted more discussion before committing capital funds to cover relocation costs.
Council asked staff to continue negotiating fees with Bethany and to report options and estimated costs at the next meeting.
