Boards and Commissions

 Board of Supervisors of Elections

Meeting Minutes
City of Rockville Board of Supervisors of Elections
July 28, 2005

The City of Rockville Board of Supervisors of Elections met on July 28, 2005 at 3:00 p.m. in the City Manager’s Conference Room, Rockville City Hall.

Members Present: Doris Ecelbarger, Chair, Sid Gottlieb, Margaretta Tutson, and Linda Aksamit
Members Absent: David Celeste
Staff Present: City Clerk Claire Funkhouser

Re:    Report on meeting between staff and the Montgomery County Board of Elections on July 27, 2005

City Clerk Claire Funkhouser reported that the meeting with the Montgomery County
Board of Supervisors of Elections (MCBSE) and representatives from Diebold yesterday had focused on the layout and creation of the ballot, delivery and set up of the machines, training for the judges, Election Day support, and materials needed for the election.  MCBSE staff member Susan Campbell said that changes in the ballot included a larger “cast ballot” button, a scroll bar, and changes in the handling of the machines involves increasing the certainty that the machines will be in a secure area overnight.

The representatives from Diebold, Tom Feehan and Nathan Robinson, talked about the company’s attempts to allay some of the security concerns associated with the machines by upgrading the software, adding more encryption on the access card, the supervisor card, and the key card.  Padlocks are also used now for the machines.  The county will only be using “refreshed units,” which have the additional safety features.  The representatives stressed that machines meet FCC standards for state electricity discharge, which is an extremely tough standard to meet.

The Diebold personnel also spoke about the possibility of using an electronic check in during the municipal elections to “try it out” at the local level before it is introduced at state elections next year.  The use of the apparatus would be free.  It has already been tried in Salisbury, Hampstead in Carroll County, and Hyattsville.  Another meeting to see a demonstration of the machinery has been scheduled.

There was discussion about training needs and some of the problems, which had occurred last time due to the lack of availability of training manuals from Diebold until the last moment.  There was also discussion about the coordination of timelines between both Rockville and Gaithersburg and the Montgomery County Board of Elections.

Compensation levels for the judges were mentioned.  In the presidential election, Chief judges were paid $150; other s were paid $120-$130 depending on the type of role.

Re:  Update on candidates and prospective candidates 

Claire Funkhouser said that only Mayor Giammo, Brigitta Mullican and Councilmember Anne Robbins had filed so far.

Re: Update on recruitment of judges and numbers need at polling place

Ms. Funkhouser said that Paul Valette of the Montgomery County Board of Elections had offered to send out a letter to judges who had served in last year’s presidential election.  It is hoped that the City will be able to recruit some new judges from this effort.  All of the judges from 2003 have been contacted as to their interest.  There was discussion about the number of judges needed at each polling place.

Re: Approval of pay rate for election judges (Based on Montgomery County’s pay in the 2004 Presidential election)

Based on the information from the Montgomery County Board of Elections, Ms. Funkhouser suggested that the City pay its Chief Judges $150 and other judges $120.  A boxed lunch would again be provided to judges.  Upon motion by Ms. Aksamit, duly seconded by Mr. Gottlieb, and unanimously passed, the board voted to set the compensation rates at $150.00 for Chief Judges and $120.00 for the other judges.

Re: Date for next meeting

As mentioned, another meeting with the Montgomery County Board has been scheduled for August 24 to which Doris Ecelbarger has been invited to see a demonstration of the check-in machinery.  The Board tentatively decided to meet the next day on August 25, with another meeting on September 15.  By September 15, all of the candidates will have filed and the ballot will be in preparation.

Re: Adjournment

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m.