Baldwin County, Alabama
File #: 18-0398    Version: 1
Agenda section: Addenda Status: Agenda Ready
File created: 6/18/2018 Meeting type: Baldwin County Commission Regular
On agenda: 6/19/2018 Final action:
Agenda item title: Absentee Election Duties Related to the 2018 Statewide Primary Election, Primary Run-off Election and General Election
Attachments: 1. Request from Jody Wise Campbell, dated June 13, 2018, 2. Email from Secretary of State's Office - Absentee Election Duties, 3. AL AG Opinion #94-00216, 4. B.C.C. ADMINISTRATION - 2.10 - Polling Place Hours-Poll Worker Compensation - 02-07-2012, 5. Smith, Rhonda - Current Assistant Contract, 6. Hernandez. Evelina - Draft Assistant Contract

Meeting Type:   BCC Regular Meeting

Meeting Date:  6/19/2018

Item Status:   Addendum

From: Chairman Frank Burt, Jr.

Submitted by:  Anu Gary, Admin/Records Manager

______________________________________________________________________

 

ITEM TITLE

Title

Absentee Election Duties Related to the 2018 Statewide Primary Election, Primary Run-off Election and General Election

Body

STAFF RECOMMENDATION

Recommendation

Related to the 2018 Statewide Primary Run-off Election and General Election, take the following actions:

 

1)   Terminate the Contract for Services with Rhonda Smith for her services as the Assistant to the Absentee Election Manager for the 2018 Statewide Election Cycle, effective at midnight on June 19, 2018, and authorize the Chairman to sign correspondence to Ms. Smith notifying her of said contract termination; and

2)  Pursuant to Section 17-11-14 of the Code of Alabama (1975), determine the amount of compensation to be paid to the Absentee Election Manager, the Honorable Jody Wise Campbell, and for the applicable absentee election time period recognized by law during the remainder of the 2018 Statewide Election Cycle, effective at 12:01 a.m. on June 20, 2018, for the July 17, 2018 and November 6, 2018 elections, to be the same pay as a Precinct Inspector for federal/state/statewide elections provided at (Baldwin County Commission) Policy #2.10 [$125.00 per day with eligibility for an additional $25.00 per day worked if certified as a qualified poll worker or completing a local election school] which is compliant to Section 17-8-12 of the Code of Alabama 1975; and

3)  Pursuant to Section 17-11-2 of the Code of Alabama (1975), recognize the performance at and designate the place/office where the Absentee Election Manager shall perform such public duties for the applicable absentee election time periods recognized by state law during the remainder of the 2018 Statewide Election Cycle [July 17, 2018 and November 6, 2018], as follows:

Place: Baldwin County (Main) Courthouse at the County Seat in Bay Minette
Office: Office of Circuit Clerk of the 28th Judicial Circuit
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM (Monday - Friday)

4)  Approve the request of the Absentee Election Manager, the Honorable Jody Wise
Campbell, and authorize the execution of a Contract for Services with Evelina Hernandez for her services as Assistant to the Absentee Election Manager at a rate of compensation of $75.00 per day worked [as paid from Baldwin County Budget Line Item 51910.5150] for the applicable absentee election time periods recognized by law during the 2018 Statewide Election Cycle [July 17, 2018 and November 6, 2018] (the term of the Contract shall commence no earlier than 12:01 a.m. on June 20, 2018, and expire no later than November 7, 2018, unless sooner terminated as set forth in the Contract).

End

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

 

Previous Commission action/date:  February 20, 2018

 

Related to the 2018 Statewide Primary Election, Primary Run-off Election and General Election, take the following actions:

 

1) Acknowledge the Appointing Board’s selection of Violetta Smith as the Absentee Election Manager for the applicable absentee election time period recognized by law during the 2018 Primary Election, Primary Run-off Election and General Election, as county employee who works as a poll worker or with absentee balloting as part of his or her job responsibilities as a county employee, and to be paid for working the hours he or she is required to spend at the polls and waive Baldwin County Commission Policy #2.10, not allowing the county employee listed above to receive any additional fees; and

 

2) Pursuant to Section 17-11-2 of the Code of Alabama (1975), recognize the performance at and designate the place/office where the Absentee Election Manager shall perform such public duties for the applicable absentee election time periods recognized by state law during the 2018 Statewide Primary, Primary Run-off and General Election Cycle, as follows:

 

Place: Baldwin County Probate Office at the County Seat in Bay Minette, Alabama

Office: Office of Judge of Probate, Baldwin County, Alabama

Time: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM (Monday - Friday)

 

3) Authorize the execution of a Contract for Services with Rhonda Smith for her service as Assistant to the Absentee Election Manager at a rate of compensation of $75.00 per day worked [as paid from Baldwin County Budget Line Item 51910.5150] for the applicable absentee election time periods recognized by law during the 2018 Primary, Primary Run-off and General Election Cycle (the term of the Contract shall commence no earlier than April 21, 2018, and expire no later than November 7, 2018, unless sooner terminated as set forth in the Contract).

 

Background:  Due to Circuit Clerk Jody Wise Campbell running for office during the 2018 Primary Election, her absentee election manager duties were assigned to Violetta Smith, Elections Coordinator at the Judge of Probate Office on February 20, 2018.  Ms. Rhonda Smith was contracted to be the Assistant to the Absentee Election Manager at that time. 

 

On June 13, 2018, an email request was received from Ms. Campbell to take over the duties of the Absentee Election Manager for the rest of the General Election Cycle for 2018 (July 17, 2018 primary run-off election and November 6, 2018, General Election), and for Ms. Evelina Hernandez to take over the duties of the Assistant to the Absentee Election Manager for the same.

 

***************************************************************************************************

 

The Code of Alabama 1975 provides for the services of an Absentee Election Manager during elections in the state.  In conformance with Alabama law, and related to the Absentee Election Manager, the Baldwin County Commission must determine or designate certain provisions, as follows:

 

1. The County Commission determines the amount of compensation to be paid to the Absentee Election Manager during his/her period of service (i.e. the 45 days prior to each election and the 1 day of each election) with the pay not being less than is provided by State law for precinct inspectors.

 

Note: The recommended action provides for the same compensation as the Baldwin County Commission provides its precinct inspectors by Commission Policy #2.10 which is in conformance to applicable State law: $125.00 a day worked with eligibility for an additional $25.00 a day worked if completing a local election school or being certified a qualified poll work by the Probate Judge.

 

2. The County Commission designates the place/office where the Absentee Election Manager will perform such public duties. Furthermore, the Baldwin County Commission, in the past, has provided the Absentee Election Manager an assistant (requested by Absentee Election Manager) by contract between the Baldwin County Commission and the assistant.  The assistant helps the Absentee Election Manager with public duties with compensation provided at $75.00 a day worked.

 

Note: The assistant is ineligible for the additional $25.00 compensation that the Absentee Election Manager may make, and the assistant’s total compensation is not reimbursable by the State because such position is not required by law.

 

 

FINANCIAL IMPACT

 

Total cost of recommendation: 

July 2018, Election (FY2018)

$6,750 +/- (Absentee Election Manager Compensation)

$3.375 +/- (Assistant)

 

November 2018, Election (FY2019)

$6,750 +/- (Absentee Election Manager Compensation)

$3,375 +/- (Assistant)

 

Budget line item(s) to be used:  51910 Elections

 

If this is not a budgeted expenditure, does the recommendation create a need for funding?  N/A

 

 

LEGAL IMPACT

 

Is legal review necessary for this staff recommendation and related documents? 

Yes.

 

Reviewed/approved by:  County Attorney to review before approval.

 

Additional comments:  N/A

 

 

ADVERTISING REQUIREMENTS

 

Is advertising required for this recommendation?  N/A

 

If the proof of publication affidavit is not attached, list the reason: N/A

 

 

FOLLOW UP IMPLEMENTATION

 

For time-sensitive follow up, select deadline date for follow up:  N/A

 

Individual(s) responsible for follow up:  Administration

 

Action required (list contact persons/addresses if documents are to be mailed or emailed): 

Administration - correspondence to:

(2 Original Contracts)

 

Absentee Election Manager

Jody Wise Campbell (notify via email only)

 

Contract to: Assistant

Evelina Hernandez

1411 Hand Avenue

Bay Minette, Alabama 36507

 

Violetta Smith (notify via email only)

 

Rhonda Smith

15490 Dogwood Road

Bay Minette, Alabama 36507

 

Additional instructions/notes:  N/A