Seniors will be taught how to use voting machines
The Fayette County commissioners Tuesday fielded a proposal from an advocacy group wanting to teach local elderly citizens how to use the county’s electronic voting machines, although the county is planning its own outreach program. Jackie Shrum of Experience Works explained that her organization acts as advocates for senior citizens aged 55 and older. Shrum said it is her understanding that there was a “significant decrease” in the senior citizen vote in the May primary because seniors were either embarrassed of or intimidated by the county’s new machines.
Because of a federal mandate, the county had to purchase new electronic voting machines before the May 16 primary, replacing the lever machines that had been used for decades.
Commissioner Chairwoman Angela M. Zimmerlink asked Shrum where she got the information about a low elderly turnout, adding that she spoke with election bureau staff that disputed that assessment. Shrum said she spoke with several people, including one woman in particular who said both her elderly parents refused to vote.
Shrum said Hart Intercivic, from which the county purchased the machines, has been supportive of the proposal, which would include taking machines to townships, senior centers, senior citizen high rises and the Uniontown Mall.
Commissioner Vincent A. Vicites, who was unable to help with county outreach prior to the May 16 primary because he was a candidate for state representative, said the county had a limited amount of time to provide instruction and the outreach has to broaden. “I believe the machines are easy to operate but there is initial hesitation,” Vicites said.
Zimmerlink said she was unable to attend the meeting with Experience Works but said county Election Bureau director Laurie Lint should have been invited. Zimmerlink said she spent hours with Hart personnel and was involved with the outreach education prior to the primary, and there is already a plan for outreach prior to the Nov. 7 general election.
Zimmerlink said she believes the county did the best it could to educate voters under the circumstances and she has “been taking steps and scheduling sites” prior to the Nov. 7 election.
Zimmerlink said voter education is more than just operating the machines, as those doing the instruction must also be able to answer questions about the election process.
Zimmerlink added that there are only three demonstration machines and one must stay in the Election Bureau office, so she didn’t know how the plans could coincide with only two machines available to use.
Vicites thanked Shrum for attending the meeting and agreed with her assessment that there was a much lower turnout for elderly in the legislative primary.
“I don’t see why we can’t coordinate. I think it’s a great idea,” Vicites said.
The commissioners voted to place a motion on Thursday’s agenda regarding the Experience Works proposal.
In other discussion, the commissioners heard a proposal to place a spot in the zoning ordinance that deals with historic sites and structures within the county.
Donna Holdorf asked the commissioners to consider an additional article in the impending zoning ordinance to protect historical sites, adding how important tourism is to the county. Evelyn Hovanec said she believes it is really important to protect historic resources, and said language should be included in the ordinance that spells out a buffer zone for properties on the National Historic Register.
Hovanec said a timeline must be outlined when the language in the “placeholder” will be inserted. “If we don’t protect what we have, we won’t have it very long,” Hovanec said.
The commissioners took no action on the request, although Zimmerlink has vowed to make historic preservation a priority.
Terry Kriss, owner of the historic Isaac Meason House, said of the 78,000 parcels in the county, with 70 historic listings, the group is only asking for one-tenth of 1 percent of the properties to be protected. “We need help and deserve help, and you three can set the tone and do the right thing,” Kriss said.
Although all three commissioners attended a meeting in June in which a representative of the Pennsylvania Historic Museum outlined the necessary steps for the county to enact ordinance preserving its historic sites and districts, they took no action on Tuesday’s request.
The commissioners also heard a complaint from Colleen Watson regarding the county’s inability to enforce a violation of the setback requirements.
Watson said her parents, who live in Menallen Township, subdivided their land and sold it to individuals who built a home and then a back deck and porch that do not meet the county setback requirements. Watson said her parents’ neighbors did receive a building permit after the deck was built, but the deck is less than a foot from the property line.
She said the issue is still at a standstill, although her parents were told they could pay $25 and put up a privacy fence, but doing that would prohibit the neighbors from getting off their deck.
Zimmerlink said the problem is the county doesn’t have surveyors or engineers to determine if the code is met or if there is a setback violation.
Tammy Stenson, head of the Fayette County Office of Planning, Zoning and Community Development, said the problem isn’t uncommon, but the county does not have a surveyor and can’t go out to the sites.
Commissioner Joseph A. Hardy III said the violators should be made to tear down the addition if it is not in compliance. Zimmerlink agreed, saying if something is built illegally it should be removed.
Vicites said he believes they should wait to hear back from county solicitor Joseph E. Ferens Jr. before taking action. “I think the solicitor’s input is critical,” Vicites said.