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Lawrence County elections board asks solicitor to petition court to merge South Newcastle precinct with Shenango Township Precinct 3
Summary
The Lawrence County Board of Elections approved Resolution 2 directing the county solicitor to petition the Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas to combine the former South Newcastle Borough Precinct into Shenango Township Precinct 3; the board clarified the court makes the final decision and the board will set any polling place after the court rules.
The Lawrence County Board of Elections voted Jan. 20 to ask the county solicitor to petition the Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas to combine the former South Newcastle Borough Precinct with Shenango Township Precinct 3.
Chair (name not specified in the record) read Resolution 2 into the record, saying the petition would request that the court “combine former South Newcastle Borough Precinct with the Shenango Township Precinct 3” and that the solicitor “shall also adhere to all notice requirements provided by the Pennsylvania Election Code.” The motion to adopt the resolution was moved and seconded and passed by roll call.
Why it matters: the board said the Borough of South Newcastle no longer exists and is now part of Shenango Township, creating a practical need to reconcile precinct boundaries. The board emphasized that the decision to merge precincts rests with the Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas, not the board. If the court approves a merger, the board will be responsible for determining the polling place for the newly constituted precinct.
What was said: Tim Buck, identified in the record as the election director, told the board he had “received no opposition to this at all” over the weekend and that people he had spoken with were publicly supportive of the move. The chair noted that at last week’s hearing Mister Al Buric, the Shenango Township manager, provided formal testimony in favor of the consolidation and that two written communications supporting the merger had been entered into the record.
Solicitor input and next steps: the solicitor (name appears in the transcript variously as “Madure” and later as “Madore”) told the board he had no concerns about moving forward. The board directed the solicitor to file the petition with the Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas and to follow the notice requirements in the Pennsylvania Election Code; the solicitor agreed to do so and to keep the board updated on the court’s response.
Votes at a glance: • Approval of minutes (with corrections): motion moved by Chair; seconded; roll call recorded Commissioners Accidental — yes; Kennedy — yes; Vogelberg — yes. Motion carries. • Resolution 2 (petition court to combine precincts): motion moved by Chair; seconded; roll call recorded Commissioners Sonata — yes; Kennedy — yes; Butler — yes. Motion carries; solicitor instructed to file petition. • Adjournment: motion moved and seconded; voice vote in favor; meeting adjourned.
What’s next: The solicitor will file the petition with the court and the board will await the court’s decision. If the court orders the merger, the board will set the polling place and post required notices.
