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Residents press board over temporary polling sites and training; board approves clerk appointments and resolutions
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Summary
Public commenters raised accessibility and safety concerns about a temporary Cochranville Fire Company polling location and urged alternatives; the board discussed logistics and approved appointments of a chief clerk and acting chief clerk and passed Resolutions BOE 2‑26 and BOE 3‑26 by voice vote.
Public commenters at the April 13 Chester County Board of Elections meeting pressed officials about proposed temporary polling‑place changes and training for judges of elections, and the board approved clerk appointments and related resolutions.
Nancy Toner, a judge of elections from New London Township, told the board she was assigned the Cochranville Fire Company as a temporary polling place while her township building is under construction and described visiting the facility and being told her precinct would be staged “in the bays where they actually keep some of the vehicles.” She said that raised concerns about ingress and egress, lack of air conditioning, vehicle odors and poor acoustics and asked that the board instead consider her HOA clubhouse as a temporary location for the primary. “If I may implore you, I’m looking for a little change here... I am here desperately looking for a change and looking for a yes,” Toner said.
Director Barsoom responded that county staff had worked with the fire company to remove equipment from the bay, that additional ventilation would be provided because there is no air conditioning, and that staff had reviewed access and doors. He said the regular notification and posting process for precinct moves (posting at multiple locations five days prior) made it too late to change locations under normal procedures for this primary and that moving a precinct requires front‑end logistics work with staff and school districts.
Felice Fine (West Goshen) reiterated concerns about overcrowding at Pierce Middle School and urged consideration of Greystone Elementary or a community house as alternatives for a large precinct. Rob Williams, an inspector and longtime poll worker, urged more precinct‑level (Joe) training and recruiting to strengthen on‑site readiness across polling places.
During public comment, John Hooper of New London Township accused the board of certifying a fraudulent election and said the county had “disenfranchise[d] voters.” Those assertions were made during public comment and went unanswered substantively at the time; the board reminded speakers to address the board and suggested submitting questions by email for follow‑up.
On formal business, the board approved a motion to appoint Eric Walschberger as chief clerk and to appoint Megan Moser as acting chief clerk to serve when the chief clerk is absent or unavailable; the motions were approved by voice vote with no opposition recorded. The board also approved Resolution BOE 2‑26 (authorizing Moser to step in for Walschberger when he is unavailable) and later moved and passed Resolution BOE 3‑26 after discussion.
The meeting closed after final public comments and a voice vote to adjourn.
