By Nick Mattera
Niagara Gazette
LEWISTON —
Just one week after a special session of the Lewiston-Porter School Board was called to approve a number of election day policies, the measure was rescinded Tuesday to allow for further review.
Policies which set new guidelines for voter and board sponsored referendums, narrowing the time frame by which they can be submitted, were voted upon at a controversial March 9 special board meeting. The meeting was interrupted by a Lewiston-Porter resident who criticized the board for not using a tape recorder during the meeting, as well as other details surrounding the proposed policies.
The polices approved then:
• 50 DAYS: Time prior to the election certain voter or board referendums must be submitted prior to the election as required by law.
• 45 DAYS: Time prior to an election a voter referendum must be submitted.
• 30 DAYS: Time a board-sponsored referendum must be submitted prior to the election.
At the time, Board Members Ed Waller and Robert Weller voted to table the polices to allow for public review, however that decision was defeated 2-5.
Just one week later, the board unanimously voted to rescind the policy and review it following the election.
“As you recall, I really thought we should have just ended the meeting on (March 9),” Superintendent R. Christopher Roser said at this past Tuesday’s meeting. “It’s probably best not to change things right now with the election coming up and let things operate as they normally have.”Roser said he didn’t want anyone to question the policy, or install a policy last minute which could jeopardize the election and force it to be set aside.
The district will now look to the policy which was in place during last year’s controversial election that states, “Each petition shall be filed with the Clerk of the School District not later than thirty (30) days preceding the Annual District Election at which the question or proposition is to be voted upon.”
The board was looking to avoid issues similar to last year, when 28 days prior to the election, former Board Member Ed Lilly proposed a referendum that would reduce the size of the school board from seven members to five.
“To me rather than jeopardizing a full election, rescind this policy, wait until after the election, renew it then,” Roser said. “It will give the public a full-year to have the policies in place and if it could mean saving our election than why not?”
The board approved to rescind the policy 6-0 with Board Member April Fideli being absent.
BONUS CONTENT:
To hear audio of Superintendent Roser's comments, click on the related file above
