County asks towns to consolidate

SCHUYLER COUNTY—Schuyler County Legislator Philip Barnes has discussed with the town of Dix the feasibility of combining voting districts one and two and then creating just one voting district and polling place.
By combining two districts, Dix would save the cost of running the second polling location during an election and save approximately $3,000.
Barnes is also planning to meet with the towns of Montour and Reading regarding consolidating districts in their towns.  Two of these districts vote at the same location, two vote across the street from each other, and in the third area the polling places are within walking distance from each other.
Tim O’Hearn, county administrator, adds that the county has a short supply of the optical scan machines used at the polling places. To bring the inventory to the mandatory level at least one more would have to be purchased at the price of $10,000 to $15,000.
Legislator Barnes’ goal is to meet with each town by March. If approved, the towns will then need to propose the district consolidations to the New York State Board of Elections in November to take effect in 2012.