Oct 25, 2006 By Amy Zalar 4 min read

A suggestion by Fayette County Commissioner Vincent A. Vicites to pay the South Brownsville Fire Department an additional $100 to use the hall as a polling place Tuesday led to a discussion on the need to make the stipend for polling places throughout the county more consistent. Commission Chairwoman Angela M. Zimmerlink said she spoke with fire company president Marty Redigan prior to the primary election about the issue and Redigan informed her that promises had been made to increase the rental compensation in the past.

While Zimmerlink said she couldn’t address what the prior administration did or did not do, she said raising the rent from $25 to $125 is excessive. “It should be more consistent (among polling places),” she said.

Zimmerlink said past administrations have increased the compensation for one or two polling places per year. According to documentation from the county, in 1998, Vicites and former Commissioner Sean M. Cavanagh approved an increase to $150 for renting for the Uniontown Jewish Community Center as a polling place.

Vicites also approved increases to Everson Volunteer Fire Department to $75 in 1997 and upped the Smock Community Center payment to $125 in 2003, along with Cavanagh and Ronald M. Nehls. The three former commissioners also voted in 20003 to increase the Divito Park rental amount to $100.

Speaking during the agenda meeting, Vicites said he was informed that if the South Brownsville Fire Department wasn’t given more money than the $25 rental it receives, they want to vacate the site and not use it as a polling place. The hall is currently used for the Brownsville Borough First Ward voters. Vicites said no promises were made to increase the compensation at the site.

Vicites said the fire department members are upset that the issue hasn’t been resolved before now. He said the county budgeted $6,000 for polling place rental, and about $2,300 has been spent, so there is money available.

Zimmerlink added that she told Redigan in May that she would like to wait until planning the budget for the 2007 year, so additional compensation can be included, if that course is taken. She predicted that approving an increase for one polling place would lead to more people asking for additional compensation.

“I agree it should be looked at, but I suggest not to do it this year,” Zimmerlink said. She said she already wrote a letter to Redigan explaining her position, and offered to write another one.

“It’s way too late to change the polling place. I would ask them to work with the county one more time,” Zimmerlink added.

Vicites said he didn’t recall a request for additional compensation coming up in the prior administration, but added that it had come up in the last two or three years. He said it was his understanding that if more money weren’t given to the fire department, they would not let the hall be used as a polling place.

Zimmerlink said she would speak with Redigan about the issue, and advocated that the commissioners evaluate the total situation prior to approving the 2007 budget.

“I suggest we look at all 105 precincts and make certain we are consistent or the compensation meets the need of that place. It can’t be piecemeal,” Zimmerlink said.

According to a list of rental for polling places for which the county pays rental fees, obtained from the office of Controller Mark Roberts, 68 of the 77 polling places that receive compensation are paid rental fees of $25.

Of the remaining nine polling places on the list that receive compensation, three receive $35 each; one receives $60; two receive $75 (John Butcho and Everson Volunteer Fire Department); one receives $100 (Divito Park), one receives $125 (Smock Community Center) and one receives $150 (Uniontown Jewish Community Center).

The county does not pay rental for public buildings used as polling places.