AUBURN - Where will the county's new voting machines be stored when they are not being used? Cayuga County Legislators answered that question Tuesday during its monthly business meeting.
The Legislature approved a resolution authorizing the county to advertise and receive bids for leasing warehouse space for the machines. But the bill was not passed without some spirited discussion.
Before the vote, legislators inquired about prior money that was authorized to be used for renovating the old county jail for that purpose. Apparently, the county carried out some demolition, but the money ran out, Legislator George Fearon said during the meeting. In order to make the premises fit to store the machines, more work would be needed to install a ventilation system, he said.
“This is why we have problems at the end of the year,” Legislator Steven Cuddeback said in response to the explanation. “Whatever happened to that program is a little bit disturbing to me.”
But Legislator Dan Schuster said the rented storage should only be temporary. County elections officials are looking at possible spaces to store the machines, which will take up at least 800 square feet. One possibility is the old post office, Schuster said.
Earlier in the meeting, legislators got a look at one of the machines when a manufacturer's representative, Sequoia Voting Systems, gave a demonstration. The optical scanning machines both read and take pictures of each ballot, and they are accessible to voters with disabilities.
The county will place one or two machines in each polling place for the upcoming election. By 2009, all of the county's voting machines will be replaced by the optical scanners.
In other news:
• The Legislature is one step closer to having control over the Cayuga County Community Mental Health Services director's position. Legislators approved a resolution setting an April 22 public hearing for a proposed local law that will have the director serve exclusively at the pleasure of the Legislature.
There has been confusion in the past as to whether the mental health director answers to the Legislature or the Community Services Board. The Legislature can currently hire a new mental health director and the Community Services Board has the authority to hire the director of community services for the mental health center. Former Mental Health Director David Blair held both titles.
• The Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District will receive $50,000 in advanced funds for this fiscal quarter. The Legislature approved the funds in an emergency spending vote. The money is already allocated to the organization in the current budget.
• Those wanting to work for the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office no longer have to live in the county. Legislators passed a resolution authorizing the sheriff's office to hire deputies and correctional officers from counties adjacent to Cayuga.
• The county Board of Elections will extend its operating hours beginning in May. The Legislature approved a resolution that will set the board's operating hours to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., starting May 1.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.
Before the vote, legislators inquired about prior money that was authorized to be used for renovating the old county jail for that purpose. Apparently, the county carried out some demolition, but the money ran out, Legislator George Fearon said during the meeting. In order to make the premises fit to store the machines, more work would be needed to install a ventilation system, he said.
“This is why we have problems at the end of the year,” Legislator Steven Cuddeback said in response to the explanation. “Whatever happened to that program is a little bit disturbing to me.”
But Legislator Dan Schuster said the rented storage should only be temporary. County elections officials are looking at possible spaces to store the machines, which will take up at least 800 square feet. One possibility is the old post office, Schuster said.
Earlier in the meeting, legislators got a look at one of the machines when a manufacturer's representative, Sequoia Voting Systems, gave a demonstration. The optical scanning machines both read and take pictures of each ballot, and they are accessible to voters with disabilities.
The county will place one or two machines in each polling place for the upcoming election. By 2009, all of the county's voting machines will be replaced by the optical scanners.
In other news:
• The Legislature is one step closer to having control over the Cayuga County Community Mental Health Services director's position. Legislators approved a resolution setting an April 22 public hearing for a proposed local law that will have the director serve exclusively at the pleasure of the Legislature.
There has been confusion in the past as to whether the mental health director answers to the Legislature or the Community Services Board. The Legislature can currently hire a new mental health director and the Community Services Board has the authority to hire the director of community services for the mental health center. Former Mental Health Director David Blair held both titles.
• The Cayuga County Soil and Water Conservation District will receive $50,000 in advanced funds for this fiscal quarter. The Legislature approved the funds in an emergency spending vote. The money is already allocated to the organization in the current budget.
• Those wanting to work for the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office no longer have to live in the county. Legislators passed a resolution authorizing the sheriff's office to hire deputies and correctional officers from counties adjacent to Cayuga.
• The county Board of Elections will extend its operating hours beginning in May. The Legislature approved a resolution that will set the board's operating hours to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., starting May 1.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.
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