[00:00:01]
GOOD EVENING[I. CALL TO ORDER]
AND CALLED A MEETING TO ORDER FOR A SPECIAL CALL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF VOTER REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS OF CLATON COUNTY.THE FEBRUARY 12TH, 2026 MEETING.
MAY I INTERRUPT MR. CHAIRMAN? WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE NOTIFIED THE MEDIA.
THAT'S THE SECOND ONE, ISN'T IT? I'M SORRY.
WE NOTIFIED THE MANNING TIMES, THE COUNTY BULLETIN BOARD, THE COUNTY FACEBOOK PAGE, SO THE MEDIA WAS NOTIFIED.
THE NEXT ON THE AGENDA IS THE ROLL CALL CHAIRMAN EDWARD GAMBLE.
HERE, VICE CHAIRMAN BRIAN MCGALL.
MS. LYNETTE SAMUELS COOPER HERE.
SO WE DO HAVE A QUORUM AS THAT.
UM, GIVE THE INVOCATION PLEASE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR OPPORTUNITY AGAIN TO SERVE YOU AND THE VOTERS AND CITIZENS OF CLATON COUNTY.
LORD, HELP US TO DO OUR BEST FOR YOUR HONOR AND GLORY.
ALL THINGS MIGHT BE DONE DECENTLY IN AN ORDER.
AND WE THANK YOU LORD FOR WHAT YOU DO.
AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE ABLE, IF WE'LL STAND AND FACE THE FLAG FOR THE PLEDGE, PLEASE.
MY I PLEAD BELIEVE AND STOOD THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[VI. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA]
ON THE AGENDA, WE HAVE THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.IF, UM, ASK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS IT'S WRITTEN, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE AGENDA AS WRITTEN A MOTION FROM MS. ARTIST TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS WRITTEN.
IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND A SECOND FOR MS. COOPER, ANY QUESTIONS OR ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR, AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? UH, IT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
[VII. NEW BUSINESS]
UM, FIRST ORDER IS, UH, APPROVAL OF THE POLL MANAGERS AND POLL CLERKS FOR THE CLANTON COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO SPECIAL ELECTION, THE CITY OF MANNING MUNICIPAL ELECTION, AND THE TOWN OF SUMMERLAND MUNICIPAL ELECTION.UM, IS THERE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR? MR. CHAIRMAN? I MAKE A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE POLL MANAGERS AND POLL CLERKS FOR THE CLATON COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO SPECIAL ELECTION IN THE CITY OF MANON MUNICIPAL ELECTION IN THE TOWN OF SUMMERTON MUNICIPAL ELECTION.
I RECOMMEND THE LIST THAT WE HAVE, UH, EXCEPT FOUR.
WHICH NUMBERS SIR? ONE, THREE OH, UH, NUMBERS ONE THROUGH 42 EXCEPT FOUR.
NUMBER THREE, NUMBER EIGHT, NUMBER 13, NUMBER 15, NUMBER 25, NUMBER 26 AND NUMBER 30 THAT THEY BE DEFERRED.
HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM VICE CHAIR MCGALL THAT THE BOARD APPROVED A LIST WHICH WAS PROVIDED TO US BY STAFF NUMBERS ONE THROUGH 42 WITH THE EXCEPTION OF NUMBER THREE, NUMBER EIGHT, NUMBER 13, NUMBER 15, NUMBER 25, NUMBER 26, NUMBER 30.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION A SECOND BY MS. COOPER? I'M SORRY.
ANY OPPOSED? ROLL CALL CHAIRMAN.
IN FAVOR? UM, VICE CHAIRMAN BRIAN MCGALL.
YES, I'M IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION.
I'M IN FAVOR, MS. MARYJO ARTIS.
MS. LYNETTE SAMUELS COOPER, I'M MS. FAVOR.
SO MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
THE SECOND ITEM UNDER NEW BUSINESS IS A, UM, MISTAKE.
YOU CAN CALL IT WHAT YOU WANT TO, BUT IT'S A MISTAKE AND IT OBVIOUSLY FALLS ON THE CHAIR.
BUT TO CORRECT THE DATE FROM SATURDAY, MARCH 14TH, 2026 TO THURSDAY, MARCH 12TH, 2026 FOR THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED SPECIAL CALL MEETING.
FOR THE MEETING AS THE BOARD OF CANVASERS TO CERTIFY THE RESULTS OF THE TUESDAY, MARCH 10TH, 2026.
CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO, SPECIAL
[00:05:01]
ELECTION PRIMARY.I APOLOGIZE FOR THE ERROR, BUT IS THERE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR? I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE CHANGED THE DATE FROM, UM, MARCH THE 14TH, A SATURDAY 2026 TO THURSDAY, MARCH 12TH, 2026 FOR THIS SPECIALLY CALLED, UM, FOR THE BOARD OF CANVASS MEETING.
OKAY, SO THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM MS. ARTIS THAT WE, UM, CORRECT THE DATE FROM SATURDAY, MARCH 14TH, 2026, MOVE IT TO THURSDAY, MARCH 12TH, 2026 TO PREVIOUSLY APPROVED SPECIAL CALL MEETING FOR THE PURPOSE OF MEETING AS THE BOARD OF CANVASERS TO CERTIFY THE RESULTS OF THE TUESDAY, MARCH 10TH, 2026.
CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO, SPECIAL ELECTION PRIMARY.
IS THERE A SECOND? I, I SECOND GOT A SECOND FROM MS. COOPER.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
AND JUST AS A REMINDER, THAT MEETING THE BOARD OF CANVASERS IS GOING TO BE AT THE BOARD OF VOTER REGISTRATION OFFICE AT THREE SOUTH CHURCH STREET.
ALL OTHER BOARD MEETINGS ARE HERE, BUT THE BOARD AND CANVASERS MEETINGS, IT'S EASIER FOR STAFF AND ALL AND FASTER FOR STAFF AND PUBLIC TO GET, UM, WITH THE EQUIPMENT AND EVERYTHING IS AT THE VOTER REGISTRATION OFFICE FOR US TO HAVE THAT MEETING THERE.
SO THAT MEETING ON THE 12TH WILL BE AT THREE SOUTH CHURCH STREET.
[VIII. EXECUTIVE SESSION ]
NEXT WE HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION, UM, FOR PERSONNEL MATTER AND, UM, OTHER MATTERS.IS THERE A MOTION, MR. CHAIRMAN, I MAKE A MOTION AS IT IS WRITTEN ON THE AGENDA THAT WE TOOK GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR PERSONNEL MATTER, OTHER MATTERS AND CONTRACTUAL MATTERS, OKAY? AND WE HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR PERSONNEL MATTERS, OTHER MATTERS AND CONTRACTUAL MATTERS FROM VICE CHAIR MCGALL.
IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND A SECOND.
UM, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
AND OUR REASON AS REQUIRED BY LAW IS TO RECEIVE AND DISCUSS FINDINGS FROM OUR BOARD ATTORNEY INVOLVING ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE.
RECEIVE AND DISCUSS FINDINGS FROM THE BUDGET REVIEW COMMITTEE AND DIS DISCUSS AN EMPLOYEE'S LEAVE STATUS.
SO, UM, WE ARE GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND I DON'T WANNA JINX THIS, BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE GONNA BE LONG.
[IX. RETURN TO PUBLIC SESSION]
YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.AND, UM, WOULD ASK FOR A MOTION TO RETURN TO PUBLIC SESSION.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I'LL MAKE A MOTION AND WE RETURN TO PUBLIC SESSION OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
A MOTION FROM VICE CHAIRMAN GALL TO RETURN TO PUBLIC SESSION FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION.
ALL OPPOSED? ANY OPPOSED? MOTIONS UNANIMOUS.
UM, THERE WAS NO ACTION THAT WAS TAKEN DURING EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UM, JUST FOR A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, WE HAD 42 APPLICATIONS THAT WERE COMPLETED FOR POLL MANAGERS AND OR POLL CLERKS AND WE DEFERRED SEVEN OF THOSE AND WE WILL ASK STAFF TO GET WITH THOSE APPLICANTS AND GET THOSE FINISHED.
AND WE DO HAVE A MEETING ON OUR REGULAR SCHEDULE MEETING IS FE FEBRUARY THE 23RD, WHICH IS, UM, MONDAY WEEK.
AND SO WE WOULD HAVE TIME FOR THOSE.
AND WE ALSO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL APPLICATIONS THAT DIDN'T COME THAT CAME IN LATE TODAY THAT, UM, WE WILL TAKE UP AT THE FEBRUARY 23RD MEETING.
UM, SO WHICH IS PLENTY OF TIME FOR THE MARCH 10TH ELECTION TO HAVE THEM TRAINED AND, AND SERVING ON THE 10TH.
UM, NOT NORMALLY, BUT GO AHEAD AND WE'LL TRY TO, WE'LL MAKE AN EXCEPTION.
OKAY? I'M GONNA BREAK SOMETHING, BUT I REMEMBER ASK THE SEVEN PEOPLE WERE DISQUALIFY, DID NOT DISQUALIFY ANYBODY.
SO BECAUSE THERE'S, I'LL JUST TELL YOU THAT THE MAJORITY OF 'EM WERE THAT THEY HAD A SO ON THE APPLICATION WASN'T COMPLETED AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WANTED THE APPLICATIONS COMPLETE.
LIKE YES OR NO OR NA BUT UM, SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE WAITING ON, BUT IT'S NOT,
[00:10:01]
WE NEED, AND I DON'T WANNA GET INTO TECH, UM, NUMBERS THAT I DON'T KNOW PRECISELY, BUT OBVIOUSLY WE'LL NEED FAR LESS NUMBERS FOR THE EARLY VOTING PERIOD THAN WE WILL FOR ELECT ACTUAL ELECTION DAY.AND SO WE HAVE PLENTY OF TIME, WE HAVE AMPLE PEOPLE, NUMBER OF PEOPLE FOR EARLY VOTING AND WE GOT PLENTY OF TIME TO APPROVE THE ONES, THE REMAINDER AND THOSE THAT CAME IN TODAY.
AND THEN THEY COME IN AFTER, UM, AT OUR FEBRUARY 23RD MEETING.
SO DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE NOT GONNA SERVE AND IT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE NOT TELLING ANYBODY.
NO, WE'RE JUST SAYING THAT YOU DIDN'T COMPLETE THE APPLICATION OR WE GOT A QUESTION ABOUT IT AND LET STAFF TELL IT, BRING IT BACK TO US.
BUT THERE'S NOBODY THAT'S BEEN DENIED OR DECLINED OR WHATEVER.
OH YEAH, I JUST SAID YES MA'AM, I'M SORRY.
AND WANNA RECOGNIZE THE AUDITOR IS HERE, WHO IS HERE.
UM, AND, AND THE OTHERS, BUT CERTAINLY THE PEOPLE ARE ELECTING OFFICIALS.
UM, BUT NO STAFF WILL NOTIFY THEM AND TELL THEM WHAT WE NEED AND THEN BRING IT BACK BEFORE THE BOARD.
AND THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME FOR THAT TO BE DONE PUBLIC.
BUT I NEED TO GET CLARIFICATION ON THAT MADAM AUDITOR, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW, TO ME IT'S A QUASI PERSONNEL ISSUE AND I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT, BUT WE'LL FIND OUT AND AS SOON AS WE CAN, IF IF WE'RE TOLD THAT WE CAN DO IT, THEN CERTAINLY WE'LL DO IT.
THE COUNTY WITHOUT GOING INTO A LOT OF DETAIL AND WE'RE NOT DOING PUBLIC COMMENTS AND ALL TONIGHT, BUT, BUT WE'LL TRY TO ANSWER, DON'T TRY TO EVADE YOUR QUESTION, BUT THE COUNTY HAS UPDATED THEIR WEBSITE AND WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE IT MORE USER FRIENDLY ON THE VOTER REGISTRATION SIDE.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY GOT IT UP THERE, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU ASKED FOR MIND AUDITOR WAS THAT THAT WAS THE APPLICATION FOR POLL MANAGERS OR POLL CLERKS ONLINE.
AND IF IT HASN'T BEEN PUT ON THERE, IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE ON THERE TODAY OR SO.
WE ARE, UM, TRYING TO BE TRANSPARENT AND TRYING TO MAKE IT AS EASY FOR PEOPLE.
UM, THEY CERTAINLY NOT SIGNING UP FOR THE PAY AND WILL.
UM, SO PEOPLE WHO REALLY WANNA SERVE, SO, AND KAY, I DIDN'T GET TO SPEAK TO YOU LAST TIME, BUT YOU KNOW, I LOVE WJ AND I'M SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS AND I HAD Y'ALL IN MY PRAYERS.
UM, ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE GOOD OF THE BOARD? MOTION TO ADJOURN.
MOTION FOR MR. MCGALL TO ADJOURN VICE CHAIR.
ANY OPPOSED? WE ADJOURN BEING.