HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-01-12 09-061 ORDINANCECOUNCIL ACTION
Item No_ 0 9 0 6
_Date: January 12, 2009
Item/Subject: Ordinance, Amending the Code of the City of Bangor, Chapter 14, City
Elections, Article I, Voting Districts and Precincts, to Consolidate Voting Districts
Responsible Department: City Clerk
Commentary:
In 2005, a consolidation to one polling place was explored and was not supported by the City
Council. In 2006, we consolidated from eight polling places to four, which significantly
streamlined voting and saved several thousand dollars in upgrades that would have been
necessary to be in compliance with ADA guidelines for polling locations. Additional savings have
been realized through reductions in staffing for the lesser number of polls that we now use.
The Finance Committee was recently approached to determine whether there was any support
for consolidating to one polling place for Special Elections only. Typically, these types of
elections have extremely low voter turnout of around 10%. During this discussion, the
councilors present expressed an interest in exploring this reduction for all elections.
In order to formally consider such a change, the City's current ordinance governing voting
districts must be amended. The attached ordinance would authorize the consolidation of voting
districts for all elections. Prior to formal Council action on this proposal, a Public Hearing must
be held. We anticipate that the public hearing would occur at the Regular Council Meeting of
February 9t". If approved by the Council, the Council would then, by Council order, designate
the City's polling location.
The next two elections will have relatively low voter turnout, which would afford the opportunity
to make any necessary adjustments prior to the Primary and Gubernatorial Elections scheduled
for 2010.
Department Head
Manager's Comments:
City Manager
Associated Information: old- M(C
Budget Approval:
Finance Director
Legal Approval:
City Solicitor
Introduced for
Passage
X First Reading
Referral to Finance /GA,Z Zq
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Assigned to Councilor Blanchette January 26, 2009
GI`T'Y OF BANGOR
rEo,FE'r
(TME.) Ordinance, Amending the Code of the City of Bangor, Chapter 14, City Elections, Article I,
Voting Districts and Precincts, to Consolidate Voting Districts
Be it Ordained by the City of Bangor as follows.
That Article I of Chapter 14 of the Code or Ordinances of the City of Bangor is amended as follows:
§ 14-1 Voting districts established.
[Amended 4-25-1988 by Ord. No. 88-184; 12-27-1993 by Ord. No. 94-38; 9-14-1998 by
Ord. No. 98-339; 4-12-2004 by Ord. No. 04-991
For purposes of all municipal elections, the City of Bangor shall be divided into one fetw voting districts,
also Known as "wards." The boundaries of such districts encompass the four districts shall -be -the -same
as established by virtue of 21-A M.R.S.A. § 1204 for the election of members of the State of Maine
House of Representatives from the City of Bangor, as follows:
A. Veting 9istfiet Ne. 1:- House District No. 15.
B. Vette-B:-*-� House District No. 16.
C. Veting Piet -Ne. 3: House District No. 17.
D. Veting-DistA► ,et Ne. 4: House District No. 18.
§ 14-2 Voting precincts established.
[Amended 2-27-2006 by Ord. No. 06-791
The Each voting district established under this article shall include one precinct. The be
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§ 14-3 rVIIS1
x"r—MI'lerpretaUen of none seuneamesm.—
[Amended 4-25-1988 by Ord. No. 88-184; 9-14-1998 by Ord. No. 98-339]
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§ 14-4 Voting places.
[Amended 11-28-1983 by Ord. No. 83-266]
The Bangor City Council shall establish by Council order at lea one voting place in eaeh '''"`"'"�•
§14-5 Compensation of elected officials
The compensation of wardens shall be $1.50 per hour above federal minimum wage and of ward clerks
shall be $1.40 per hour above federal minimum wage and of election and ballot clerks shall be $0.50
above federal minimum wage for each election at which they shall respectively attend and perform
faithful and satisfactory service.
STATEMENT OF FACT: Deletions are stmek thmugh, additions are underlinedi
IN CITY COUNCIL
January 26, 2009
First Reading and Referred
to a Finance Committee
CITY CLERK
IN CITY COUNCIL
February 9, 2009
Motion Made and Seconded to
Open the Public Hearing
Public Hearing Opened
Patti Dubois, City Clerk gave
a presentation on the
Consolidation of Polling Places
to One Polling Place at the
Civic Center
Those that came forward and spoke
in favor of the Consolidation were,
Jan Budden, Larkin Street, Judith
Boothby, Kenduskeag Avenue, Donald
Lewis, Broadway, Patricia Bixel,
Grove Street, Bill Sullivan, Packard
Drive, Nick Bearce, Dillingham Street
and Charles Thayer, Silver Road
Stephen Butterfield Representative
for District 16 spoke against.
the Consolidation
Motion Made and Seconded to
close the Public Hearing
Public Hearing Closed
Motion Made and Seconded
for Passage
Vote: 6-1
Councilors Voting Yes: Bronson,
D'Errico, Gratwick, Nealley,
Palmer and Stone
Councilors Voting No; Wheeler
Coucilors Absent: Blanchette
and Hawes
Passed
(TITLE,) Amending the Code of the Bangor
Chapter 14, City Elections, Article I,
Voting Distrit and Erprinrrg to Consolidate
Voting Districts
Assigned to COUA101or
.: trM naw'
PtMLIC MEARM
CITY OF BANGOR
Afranding the Code of the City of Bangor, ChapW 14,
W diplactions, Article I, Voting Districts and PreMlgwbl$r_
to Consolidate Voting Districts
TM Bangor City Council will Hold a Public he at
1%l ar Meeting at 7:36 p,m. on February 9, 2
ptYncil Chambers on the 3rd floor of City _
treet, Bangor, Maine, for the Purpose of
Comment on a Proposed Ordinance Amen
�MMoh would Consolidate Voting Districts.
}
,A .Qopy of the Ordinance will be Available W00
llMM, the City Clerk's office at Bangor City Hall PriIW
Hearing. The Public is invited to address
sh this Proposed Ordinance Amendment,
Patti DYbob, Cidy C10*
1