Board of Registrars - Regular Meeting

[Music] Welcome to this meeting of the Grafton Board of Register. Seeing that all members are in attendance and a quorum is present, this meeting is called to order. Today's date is 3:25 of 2025 and the time is 9:00. Okay, so we'll jump right into the agenda. Uh item one, vote on early inerson voting for May 2025 local election. So I did a little research. Um it looks like in 2023 and 2024 for the local election you didn't have in person. Usually it's a little bit more expensive than the number of people that attend. Um, it will be my first election here, so I would also lean on your opinion, but it seems as if it's usually a big cost to the town for a small number of voters, and they do have the option to do the vote by mail. Yeah, agreed. Yeah, the cost was always a thing, right? And I think we had talked about this one of our previous meetings, like whatever the number was, but it was pretty high. I I guess we've never really drilled down and I think in partially because we haven't really had in person early for the local so it's you know now we're playing with okay at the primaries and other things. So um I hear what you're saying. Yeah I mean we discussed it at the Democratic town committee and uh you know the the expense isn't isn't uh justifiable really especially considering what the town budget might be this year. I right. So cons I have cost necessity uh considering as you mentioned uh in person and early absentee uh I'm sorry mail in and absentee um in the past we've talked about the displacement of the gym because that's typically where habits so users of the gym are displaced for that week. Um the only pro that I

thought about especially for you perhaps is a good practice for the new workers whether it's new pole workers and for you to kind of as the town clerk see how that goes but I don't know that that outweighs you know what I mean you know so I know you say looking at it like in the past we have not thought it was cost effective. I fully agree it would be a great experience for me. I have been reaching out to the wardens and I plan to meet with them. We do have the training. I'm familiar with all of the equipment and both Todd and Mike have been through it and the elections and so Mike is going to take me to the facility and we're going to walk through. Okay. So, summing it up. Well, even though if you did the inperson, it's not at the same location as the polling place. So, right, just the mechanics of going through it. But you've experienced, you know, I mean, I've been against I think it's not cost effective. I think all those things but if you know I mean um does everyone feel everyone feel comfortable? All right. So So they they but we will have the mail in. Yes, of course we Okay. Uh do I have a motion regarding let's see what is our vote on inerson early voting for the May 2025 election. Uh, a motion to I guess to not hold to not hold early in person voting for the May 25 uh May 20th, 2025 local election. Do I have a Do I have a motion? Do I have a second? I second. Okay. All in favor of not holding early in person voting for the May 2025 local election? All in favor of not Hi. Hi. Okay. 4 Z on that one. Uh, approve location for early in person

voting if necessary. So, that's not necessary for us. I don't We could probably I could probably let the select board know even though I think they wait for us. If we don't give it to them, they don't they don't weigh in on it. So, it doesn't make a difference. So, but I'll let them know when it doesn't matter. Perfect. Thank you. Actually, one of the members is here. So, uh, let's see. Okay. Item three, discuss VRS computer terminal access policy and training for all registars uh in a reference to 42 USC 15483. Actually that reference the better reference and I apologize for that is 52USC 211083. That comes out of the National Voter Registration Act that it's literally the same text but that's a better reference for it. And so the only reason that I asked this be put on the agenda because in 52 USC 211083 in and this mentioned um five under a ba and in general says any election official in the state including any local election official may obtain immediate electronic access to the information contained in the computerized list. So for our purposes, I believe the computerized list we refer to as VRIS. That's the system, right? So, so there is a federal law that talks about it. I guess I'm just trying to clear up any confusion this board has or the members have about where our legal standing is to do the things that we can do as registars. So I only bring it up and a lot of these are just to get clarification that there are laws on the books unlike some other boards and committees. We have laws that dictate what you know what we can do what we can't do for some of this stuff. So can I make a comment on that? Sure. So the list is generally an extract because you

can't on the system immediately generate a list of the voters. You could pull voters up individually on the program but the list is the extract and I can provide that for you at any time. They do do those twice a day at 7 am and 7 pm. I think you're all familiar with that. But anytime you want that, I can give you that list. Sure, I think. So that's great. And I've asked for it. I guess my question, Madam Clerk, is in the LA and I had this further down, I think, but and we can wait, but let's if we can just touch on it now. Um, my previously my requests were fulfilled pretty much same day or certainly the next day. My last request that I made was considered or or came back to me as a public records request. So I'm trying to under just for clarification from your office, how do you want them as public records request and are they being treated as public records requests or is it more in line with the law that says yeah no they have a right to that you got to get it to them. So I'm just curious. Yep. You can have it. I will keep a list of what I provided just because sure that's you know I'm the keeper of the records and that would be a record that I shared so but you can reach out to me you don't have to do it through a public record but I will keep a record and I don't have an issue filling out the form every time you but then it becomes that question and Mike and I talk about this it's that 10day wait period which is actually more than 10 days because it's business days and then it turns into you know what I mean and there's probably no urgency what you can communicate what you want with me and but I just will I will keep a list of what I Okay y perfect thank you that's very helpful okay so that was so any further discussion on that point just pointing out the federal law now as everyone understands right we can request them through the through the clerk's office if you're interested in

getting the uh the voter role regards to training. Would you need time? Excuse me. Would you need time to prepare that or do the only if you wanted the list like I would have to do a request as an extract? I think are you all familiar with the Excel list. So, how it comes how it comes to me is a text file and I can request it like a complete extract of all the voters, but I have to request it from the state and the state fulfills that at 7:00 a.m. and 700 p.m. for all cities and towns. And so when I get that text file, I'll put it on a I'll transfer it to Excel and then I can give you that document. I just wanted to kind of get it sensitive. Yeah, the system is old and very wonky. They're coming up with a new revised version in the summer, but it's very old school. Yeah. And it's not very user friendly. So, the text file being converted to Excel is so much easier to work with. Sure. Okay. Great. Thank you. It sounds as though so that's a substitute for us going in there. The past clerk didn't want us in that office whatsoever. Is that something that you see foresee happening like this is the substitute we're not going to actually be trained on the system or actually you know what I mean like well I think maybe you when you and I met and when Lisa and I met we touched on the fact that the new system is going to be more user friendly and it wouldn't be as easy to delete people. It's going to be a lot easier to retrieve the data that you want. we'll be able to I mean from my understanding because I haven't been the new program hasn't been rolled out that we can get our extracts in real time so it might be different once the new program comes out but right now it's a lot of rigma roll to use that system so I

would rather just wait till we have the new one okay um the new system will there be a readonly file do you know right so you and I there's tiers of it right now if I were to like accidentally put my wrong password and I have to call the state and it takes like hours to reset. It's just not a very user friendly system and I think it would just be better in June, I'll have the ability to reset and if you were working on it on mine and locked me out on accident, you know, it just I just feel it like it would be a wise choice to wait till the new system was out. There'll be training available in June. So I don't training for you know what I mean? Do you feel at this point you could say yeah training for all the registars and your staff? I can't speak to that because the system isn't out. It's been bumped back. I think the state right now is trying to wait till um everybody's local election is over because they didn't want to start a new system right before the big election year last year. Sure. So I haven't been trained on it. Everything I know is just by you know conferences and staff in that office outside of you has access to VIS. That is correct. So, right, Todd and Mike. Okay. Yeah. So, they'll be certainly going through training. Yes. So, the hope would be I know personally from my perspective I would like to be included if that's you know and that might have to be whether we go through the state and say, "Hey, can you can these people get passported to do it?" I'm assuming that. But so, I just feel like that has to be a discussion that we bump till the new system is out there. No, I I get that. Yep. I'm in no rush. Yep. Absolutely. Thank you. Uh let's see. So now uh so any further discussion on the federal piece or our training or access policy? Okay, let's move on to for discuss master journal law 51. Um so it's a

series of mass journal laws 5122. Um I brought up 5122 because in 5122 it says registars in cities and uh towns in in and towns may appoint assistant registars. That would be all of us and that would also be you madam clerk. Yeah. Are anyone in the office appointed as assistant registars? Actually I'm not actually sure about that. I'm going to have to check. All right that'd be great. Um we yeah I had a question about that. who are assistant registers. Yeah. You know, um if if um I think it sounds like additional people could be. Yes. Um because we're the border registars. So you can appoint an assistant. I don't think I need one. So there's the Connecticut registars. They have a whole it's very good. some of the stuff I think I've mentioned it before and but so it goes through I I'm not interested in that necessarily either but assistant registars do have you know the same powers or seemingly close to according to this as registra so I kind of wanted to you know part of it was is there anyone in the office now that's an assistant and just to let us know if you wanted to if you wanted an assistant you can well I apologize I I didn't I don't actually know so I'm going to get an answer to that and I will I will communicate that with everybody I mean they're appointed for a term of one here and so I would think that their appointment would have to be showing up on the website if it's been it's a good question. I mean, you know, I think we all agree we're wandering into stuff or whatever. The the the wordage here is may point. Yes. So, yeah, absolutely. It's not mandatory. Exactly. Right. So, being a small town, we probably need No, but for the purposes of the You know what I mean? It's just like So, again, so staff in the office has access to VIS. Is that because they're assistant registars? You know what I mean? or is that you know

what I'm saying? So I hear you. I I'm not interested in that, but I just wanted a clarification. A lot of this is just clarification. Correct. Okay. Any further discussion on 5122? No. Okay. Move on to 5123. Um at the bottom, the city of town clerk when a member of the board of register shall act as a clerk thereof and shall keep a full and accurate record of its proceedings and shall and shall cause such notices as the registars may require to be properly given. So really, we've talked about the town clerk being the clerk of the board. That's that law. That's what it says in that law. Would you agree? Yes. So, you can appoint me to be the clerk now and then we can have that in the minutes. Okay. Great. I motion to have Amy Barry be our clerk. Clerk of the board of registars. Do I have a second? Second. All in favor? I I Very good. Madam clerk, you are you are our clerk of the board. Thank you. 4 Z on that. Well, let's do three one. Uh any so any further discussion on that one? 5123. Okay, moving on. 5133. Uh any registar may receive affidavit of registration but all the actions of one registar shall be subject to the review and acceptance by the board. Um I put this in here. I don't really know that we've ever had the opportunity to as a board uh review and accept any any affidavit. So they're talking about people that register. I'm not asking that we personally I'm not thinking that that's something I necessarily want to do, but it is in the law. Um and we would have the opportunity according to this to review anything that's done from

the clerk's office as as in in um Miss Barry's capacity as a register. Additionally, didn't you do a drive for? So that would be considered under this as well. Okay. Um and if you have questions about like a voter registration, I would be happy to go through the form with you. I would show you the process of how I input it. I'm happy to That's great. You at all? Yep. Lisa and I, we've we got to see it firsthand last year. It might be a good idea we go back, but so I'm familiar with it. Um and I know Lisa are too. So, uh Okay. Any further discussion on 5133? Okay, moving on to 5137. So, this has to do with the census which the town census which again that's under our perview um somewhat. Um my question with so uh registar shall enter the annual registar every name contained in the list prepared by and under section four which they can identify as that of a person whose name was uh born on the voting list of the city or town at the last preceding election. Right? So this is just talking about people that fill out the census. We take a look at that list or the certainly at this point the clerk's office does giving the residence of such person January 1st of the year. Right? So they shall make all inquiries. So this is the part that is important I think they shall make they meaning the register shall make all inquiries and investigations necessary to identify such persons as they shall not enter in the annual register the name of persons objected to by any registar. So I I know for me it's just like the voter integrity piece. It's just like we can object you you can object to people being put on a list that we feel shouldn't be on a list as registars. How

we convey that to the town clerk whether she wants to however she'd like to do that. But I just you know again this is us understanding the law and what the law says regarding our duties and what what we're allowed to do and what we're not allowed to do. So I I guess the intent of this would be really to look at how we work with the clerk to sure, you know, oversee the process. That's I think what your your issue is. I I you know, you and I disagree. You think we're an oversight. I think we this law mandates us as an acting body, not an oversight necessarily. It's what we've been done and I'm comfortable with it for the most part. But but you know, I mean, we're working with the town clerk's office and who's who's a member of the board of reg, you know, and together we identify, you know, what the issues are. I know you say together, but we really haven't done it together. Well, some of it at this level, right? It's but but I agree with you. I agree with you. Well, because we don't get a list of who's being registered. Correct. So we can't object to anything because we don't see the list. So therefore, we just assume that the clerk has done all the identifying and investigating and approves it. Everything's okay. So unless there was a specific person that we became aware of that we knew something about that we questioned whether they should be approved or not. You know, we wouldn't. Would it make you feel more comfortable if I told you how I do the census? If you'd like to tell. Sure. So I contacted when I started mass mailers to confirm that it went out and so it and it is coming back. There's many many census forms in the office. So I divide them in three sections. One, no changes and signed by the head of household. Those are scanned and updated as received. There's another section of

minor changes. So if like you changed your occupation, that is a simple change. It doesn't touch your voter registration in any way, but we go in and we'll update it as maybe retired and then we'll update the census. Those are called minor changes. Then there are major changes and that would be a family that maybe their child has moved out of the house and they signed on the bottom. And so if there's the signature of say the the child that moved out, then they are removed from the census due to the wording because the wording has been approved by the state to remove that voter. I save that portion of it with their voter registration card because you have to keep those for one year. Then the rest of the family, if they're untouched on the census, is updated. Let's say that the mother or the father signed the child's name on the bottom. they are not removed. They were put into the inactive and then a letter is sent out to the child that they need their signature and then if we get that paperwork back then they are removed. And oh I forgot to mention I moved them into a separate family code. So then the following year when the census goes out they will receive their own census. It will not be on the parents anymore. And then I don't know if there's like another scenario like if it comes back they moved and they're not it's not signed I go through the same process new family code inactive and a letter. So so I guess what that sounds great you know and I think that that's the kind of thing that we really want to know right I mean it's more about transparency than it is wanting to go in and do all this. I mean, I guess we felt um I I know that you felt this way, Dan. Um and Lisa, you probably did, too, that um you know, we didn't we were kind of on the outside

not knowing what the inside looked like and yet we have all this responsibility to um make sure that things go well. So, if if we don't have that information, then it's hard. But we don't need to go in there and do all that. That's my point. I mean, but I want you to know I'm open to meeting with you and talking with you and sharing with you. So, whatever your comfort level is. Yeah. I'm happy to that's that's the kind of thing I think and I hear you at our own individual discretion. You know what I mean? As long as you right like you choose not to do it, that doesn't mean that one of us anyone else on the board couldn't do it. It's our own individual discretion. That's what I would like. And as long as you like I wouldn't want you to feel as though hey I'm going into the clerk's office. Well wait a minute we're not going in as a board. We don't have to. You know what I mean? That would be part of it. I'm not saying I'm going to do that. I'm just trying to get you know so you understand. We're not acting as a board. I individually as a register can do these things. You know much like we did for the for the signup right when we went up to Crescent Street. You weren't there. Lisa and I were there you know. So it's it's okay. We acted as individuals let's say. Yeah. makes sense. Well, that that's fine. You're trying to register people and and all that. Um, so that's not a problem. But I guess when it comes down to the functioning of the process, how much do we really, you know, if we're working together, you could provide the information to help us feel comfortable with the process? Of course. Yes. Any information you want. Yeah. now and then we wouldn't really have a need to you know go into you understand your I'm just trying to make it clear you that what you think is a need to do fulfill your role might be different than what I think is a need but I want you know

let's be clear I want to work with clerk absolutely as a registar when she has a registar hat on right yeah okay um so as it's so we're getting in those census forms now you you do them. Does everybody in the office do them? Yes, Todd and Mike both do them. Yep. They have been doing Todd did all of the no changes. I've been I asked if I could do the ones that would be potential remove just because I need to be familiar with the list. Sure. Yep. Um then if the the if the census isn't respond to, do we send out second notice in June? We send out a confirmation mailing. So I think those two things are different and I don't mean to like put too fine a point on it but they do talk about it's not mandatory that a second notice be sent out if they don't respond which really I think is so how they describe it is it's the same census notice that goes out except you you take out all the information because the feeling is if they didn't return a first one perhaps it ended up at a house that was now become vacant or this you know I I believe that's what the mindset was so there is like a so a second form could go out it's not mandatory by the state but it you know, it's it's a possibility. I'm curious if we do that or what I think what you're talking about is if there's no response by June 1st, a confirmation letter goes out to say it and I I think I'm right about that, right? And so, um I've actually never done the second. It's kind of costly the second notice, right? No, understand. I completely understand. I'm just cur, you know, as we go through. I don't know if Grafton has done that. I don't know. Understood. Um I personally have never done that. Gotcha. So you just it's that first census thing and then the confirmation notice goes out if you don't get it back. Correct. And at that point if the conf if if after the first notice if it's not responded to voters on that are they made inactive at that point? Yes. Okay. Perfect. Thank

you. All right. Great. All right. Any further discussion on 5137? None. Okay. Sorry. Let's go on to 5412. So time frame of election officer appointment. So the first line of 5412 says the selectment of every town shall annually not earlier than January uh July 15th or later than August 15th appoint as election officers for each voting place. And then it goes through the election officers um that you know whether it's a clerk, whether it's a warden, so forth and so on. Um, this was a question that, you know, I'm trying to get clarification on as to why it is we're appointing people prior to July 15th when we're not in that six week window of appointments. Well, we still have room for more election workers. The select board can appoint at any time and as it comes closer, the time frame is outlined in here. than if the select board hasn't done it. But if we waited till July 15th, the election would be over. So you are talking about the local election. I I when you say the select board can appoint at any time. How does that square with the first sentence the select of every town shall annually not earlier than July 15th? How does that how do So these are just additional appointments like that would be the appointments that they would do for the the year would be the July to the August appointment but these uh requests came in later so they wouldn't have been able to be on that July to August 15th appointment. These are new requests but it doesn't it it doesn't make the distinction. I'm I'm curious if there's case law or if the town did town council weigh in on that. I called the state. Okay. And I talked to the state

attorney and she said that Tinary. Yes. Could you Could you provide me that guidance? Is it in writing? Could you It's not in writing. I just spoke with her verbally. I understand what But to me, this is kind of like a big This is like a big thing that I think is being ignored and I'd be curious like it it that's not what the law says. So that's my curiosity of it. It's like and I I guess part of me is so um we originally a Passover pool worker. I talked to you that that night about and I said I I'm trying to do this on behalf of you if you don't want me to do it and you said go ahead and then to see it show up two weeks later. I understand um but I don't understand it. This is like despite the fact that I felt it was important that you weigh in. I also in talking to the assistant town administrator came across this law. No one's really addressed this specifically about that. I I hear what you're saying. So, I'm not actually a lawyer. Me neither. So, I feel as if if you want Yeah. the correct answer, I can't I don't want to misspeak. I just know I did reach out to the state. Okay. And I feel as if I I don't want to misspeak. Okay. I I So, I'm going to I'll reach out to the elections division maybe and see if they'll clarify it for me. Okay. Okay. Perfect. um you would agree too. So as we go through this right uh upon the uh right procedure consideration. So one of the other things that I wanted to point out here for us is if if the town committees submit a list of candidates for poll workers um that's going to be uh that's going to be our board. So, as it stands for for those what I'm going to call one-off appointments, the town clerk sends a letter of recommendation to the select board. They vote on the candidates. Um, for us, if town committees, whether Republican or Democratic town committees, submit a

list of candidates. They, as of yet, they haven't sent that list out yet. Um, or as of last week, they hadn't. Were they notified? They were. They were. Okay. So, you think they've been notified because last I knew they had not been. So they didn't for the election workers. Yes. Oh, I don't actually know about that. Yeah, I don't think I know they were for the registars. That decision is supposed to come this week from from the town committees. Um I think they and so that feeds right back into this piece where my understanding of the law is if a letter hasn't been sent out and if they haven't town committees can initiate that letter that town committee can send a letter to the select board and say hey I have this list of people I want these people considered to be pull candies. I understand that according the flip side of that is I didn't I don't think anybody knows that. I understand. Right. And so you know that's you could because it never never came up and at your meeting you know talk to your chair and say hey you could have sent the letter out. Yeah. This law speaks about if a if if the town committee hasn't set a letter in that the town by April 15th is supposed to send out a letter saying, "Hey, if you have any people that you want to put on as a candidate for um for election worker, send it to us." Either way, when the town committees send in names, we we this board, the registars are the ones that consider the candidates. And so that's in this law, too. And it talks about upon the filing of such list the registars shall forthw with proceed to the consideration thereof and shall on or before June 13 uh June 13th submit to the selectman the names of persons whose names appear on the lists who in their opinion are qualified to act as election workers election but see one thing that I notice is they they determine there's a determination between election officer and election worker so the officers to me are I'm sorry. Deputy Warren. Okay.

You know, let me say versus whole worker, which I think is different than the officers. I think throughout this, you won't see pole worker in this if you if you can if you you know what I mean. You won't I don't think you'll see it, but Okay. Yeah. So, I might have misread it. It says qualified as election officers. You know what I mean? So, the election they they state election officers are these. Yeah. and they don't mention pole workers in there. I understand and that's fair. I can ask for clarification, but because I believe they're talking about all officers because they go through the lists of so they talk about wards, they talk about clerks, they talk about inspectors, um inspectors, they also talk about or the pole workers considered tellers. Tellers. Yes. Right. This was the question I had asked too of ministers. like look because his feeling was well pull workers yeah no they're not saying pole workers in here they're talking they they refer to them as election officers in all their capacities so we can get a clarification on it even so so I guess your contention is that no no um the if the town committees submit a list of names they're not we would that who who then in your mind is the one that I don't want to say vets but certainly makes the recommendation to be to appointment. Yeah, I guess that that would be my question. Are we talking about these officers, right, for appointment versus the maybe maybe they're considered tellers as the pole workers? I think they are. So that's yeah, that would be the Yeah. the difference between the two. Is that within your job description or for So are you asking what their role would be at the election? No. No. I think I I think the confusion here is that the way this law is written perhaps that my contention is this it's written to identify all pole workers. It's not

spelled out as pole worker. They're referred to as election officers officers. Um and as so my thought is that's all in you know that's everyone that's that works as a pool worker. If that's the case, if town committees submit those names, I read it as this board makes the determination as far as in in our opinion who was qualified to act as an election officer. So since we're just I just feel like that's just something that needs to be clarified. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Would you agree, John? Yeah, I I would agree. Um but again I think you know uh we don't do this in in in a vacuum you know we have to do it coordinated with the town clerk's office who has the capacity to do this we don't have the capacity to necessarily determine qualified you know well I mean the town clerk can correct me but I believe it was stated at a select board meeting that it's an automatic appointment. That was the policy of the town clerk was it was an automatic appointment, but you have to review the qualification. No, they submit they submit an application. Yeah. So, yeah. And who and Okay. So, but that's a that's a normal clerk's job to review that. Yes. Do you have you in your past experience ever worked with the board of registars to approve them? I have not. Okay. I I just I I know that you know we have a role but to to what extent do we have that role and I'm suggesting it's clear in this law upon the filing of such a list register shall with threats proceed to consideration thereof. Yeah, but in collaboration with the clerk's office, but she's a registar, you know what I mean? So, in this capacity, right? So, I I think it's important that we understand the clerk has the registar

hat and the town clerk hat. In in this case, they're talking about with with clerk Barry. They're talking about with her. All right. I just didn't want I think it would just be wise to have it clarified. Absolutely. I don't disagree. And a little bit further down, no person shall be appointed as an election officer until he's found qualified to act as such. Heron provided, right? And so the issue that I see down the line is if the town clerk's office doesn't have a policy with regards to whether you want to call it a vetting process or some type of qualification look at and we do as a board as a board of registars there's an imbalance there you know what I mean I'm not comfortable just saying are you talking about the imbalance of the parties or of the who is appointing I'm I'm talking and if you said you know what I I don't as a clerk when you put your tongue clerks out I don't it doesn't matter to me my policy is yep whoever applies I appoint but we say well if they apply through this method of town committees we vet we will take a look um we will meet and say okay candidate one candidate two I suspect that that's how we would do it right this is this is the ask is should we create a policy for this board when now it hasn't happened I it certainly hasn't happened in my three years that the town committees have submitted names I don't suspect that it will but it came up Because the the the thought was I know you didn't say it, but it was Yep. Uh we the town clerk's automatic appointment, automatic recommendation, I should say, for you know what I mean? It's like do some vetting, right? And I feel like the application submitted is the vetting. Okay. So that's So I think we're talking about two different things, right? It's just so the town clerk feels as though that is the vetting in the appointment process. Your question is you do vetting. So that's the I guess that would be the answer. Madam town clerk. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So we might do

something a little bit more extensive. Why it it we could certainly Right. And so now we get back to this idea of a policy. Does this board want to want to use the policy that the town clerk uses really, which is just vet the form? Mhm. Yeah. I mean, it's it's like why would we do more than I mean, as long as we're communicating, that's I think the the issue that that you're concerned about is that in order to have oversight, you know, I feel like we need to collaborate. And so, as long as we have a a process of collaboration, then we have oversight. That's we don't need to, you know, reinvent the wheel every time something new comes up if we work together and we don't really currently have the list like we don't have a list. Correct. Yeah. No, I understand. I'm fearful that if but if a lift is presented and we don't know that because it hasn't been solicited or hasn't been it's not past the deadline. But I would communicate with that with you and I understand and so but then the process becomes okay as a registar right we as you have a list and then the question just becomes for our board whether we decide our our process will be different than the town clerk's policy of nope that's enough you know I mean I I had an issue that came up previous was like is it a practice or is it a policy well practice isn't policy and and so that gets if you know it's searchable It gets runs people into problems. It runs boards into problems. No, that's not a policy. It's a practice. Well, and so you know that's I I don't want to keep hammering away at it, but to get back right. So, security, integrity of elections, polls, handle polls handle sensitive information like voterist ballots. Background checks can help prevent individuals with a history of fraud or theft from tampering with the process. Voter confidence. Voters are more likely to trust electoral process if they know poll workers have been screened. This can increase voter turnout and participation. Public

safety. Background checks can help identify individuals who may pose a threat to the safety of voters or fellow poll workers. This is especially important in situations where polling locations are in schools. Our polling locations are in schools. Uh voter intimidation. Voters should feel safe and welcome at polling locations. Background checks can help reduce the risk of intimidation tactics by ensuring poll workers have no history of violence or disorderly conduct. Deterrence. The very, and this is to me, I love deterrent. I'm a big deterrent. The very existence of background checks can deter individuals with malicious intent from applying to be pole workers. Again, these so when you talk about, you know, this is some of the reasons why, you know, we might look at it differently as a board. I'm not saying we will. I'm saying, you know, for future, you know, conversation of whether we really need to institute a policy based on some of that stuff. Well, I think that the the thing to remember about all this is that these are guidelines. Um we're a board including you. Um so we all work together, you know, but um you know the information, you know, should be an agenda item that we understand the process, how it's going, how many people you've recruited, um you know, whether you ran into any problems, what's your process, that that I think is what we should be doing. I I I I'm just trying to drill down on the difference between what the town clerk does compared to what this board does. Well, she's she's part of this board. I understand in in the capacity of when she makes those recommendations on her own. Yeah. Right. That that's all I'm trying to do. John, yeah. One question. So our back So you're saying background checks should be done for I'm saying that it can be done if we wanted them to be done. I'm saying that the board this board needs to determine that piece. Right. That's all that and I'm not saying it's a good idea. It's

it's going to have to be a conversation about hey Right. And so the town of Sterling, it took me all of 15 minutes to find 10 towns that do Corey checks. This came up because I talked to the assistant clerk and he's like, "What are we going to do? Corey check everybody?" I guess it seemed outlandish to him, but it took me all of 15 minutes to find 10 towns. That's exactly what they do. They corey check their pole workers, right? One of the reasons the town of Sterling does that is because their pole workers are in schools, right? And so the Corey check is and again I'm just this is a discussion. This isn't right. It's this board said yeah no we don't want to go down that road. Great. Yeah. Right. But but whether we have a policy or procedure in place it came up because of all of this you know the clerk's appointments are different than the board's appointments. Do we have a policy? There was confusion about the clerk's policy. It's not really a policy. It's a pro it's a procedure. I I think in the in the you know I've only been on the board for what a year and a half but um yeah the transparency is I think the issue you know it it's like a mystery of what was happening in the clerk's office and being new um I wasn't I mean I'd never seen this before. would have been helpful to to have um in the past. But um you know I mean uh the key here is how do we work together transparent in a transparent fashion and understand how this system works without you know handcuffing the clerk's office on you know John I don't think you're not handcuffing the clerk unless you're saying that if we if if We we if this board when when we get appointments from town committees Yeah. We're not slow rolling anything. No, but if we get

involved and they're involved, it just it doesn't it wouldn't flow very well. If we go into the clerk's office and want to do all this stuff and you know it's like okay so I'm I'm unclear. I think you're off you're off point like we don't would have a meeting right whether whether we'd call a board of registars meeting and go okay this list has been submitted by the town committees. These are candidates for pole workers. Yeah, this is what we're talking about. Not going in, not varys. This isn't vary verification or whatever. This is something separate in whether this board feels as though we should come up with a policy regarding vetting of pole workers. That's all we're talking about. We're not getting in the way. It would be so the the the the letters come in. I'll call a meeting immediately or if you're the chair, you know, call a meeting immediately. We, you know, we can go through it. Okay. We're just thinking about it at this point. when I So the current policy is you don't you don't do a Corey check on people. No, from my understanding they don't. I hadn't done that in my previous town either. Yeah. I only use that as an example of what some other towns do. I I'm not suggesting that we do it for our board necessarily. It's a conversation. I like the idea of um looking at the policy to understand how it works and um and and the fact that the that that the uh town committees have an opportunity to bring forth people which I don't think people knew. So so that's that's good. So there's a there's a certain vetting process going on there too. And then you know Yes. Um, so, uh, I think that, uh, yeah, so I I don't know together with the clerk's office, we can review the list. Um, but, you know, that's I think that would be we can't review those individual appointments.

That's completely on the clerk and the select board. We can't review, right? Like she may put forth a recommendation of people which that happened two weeks ago, right? Two two pole workers get appointed. Yeah. She put we had nothing to do with it. Why? Because it was her appointment as a recommendation. When the town committees put names forward, that becomes our letter of recommendation. That's all I'm trying to say. And as a result of that, what does this board do? Including the town clerk who's a registar. What does this board do with regards to any vetting that might take place? That's it. again when it's not on the agenda today. We're not, you know, outside of this conversation really discuss. It's just something to think about. Okay. Okay. All right. Okay. 5412. Any further discussion on 5412? See? Uh okay. 5413. Um such election officers shall be enrolled voters so as appointed equal represent. So this goes back to this also came up um 5413 such election officers shall be enrolled voters so appointed as equally to represent the two leading political parties. So there is a law that talks about trying to get equal representation of the political parties the two leading plates which in this case would be the Democratic party and the Republican party right? So there is a law that talks about trying to do that and as long as we're all clear on how we get so the the goal of this law is to have people of different parties at whether it's at a check-in table or so that any type of election hy jinks is hopefully avoided but with a checkin balance. Um we we're very heavily I think we're up to 75 pole workers I think I think you're right. Um, do you so as a little sidebar, do you feel that that's going

to be okay for the primaries? I I know where you know, do you have a goal in mind with regards to the total number you would like to see? I mean, it could be at you might be Yeah. No, I don't 500. No, I that seems excessive, but I don't actually I don't have a number for you. Okay. Um, but how we get around this checks and balance pieces with unenrolled, we're very heavily unenrolled. Um I understand it's it's necessary in right in order to have an election really other otherwise you start to scale down the number of workers and that would be handcuffing the town clerk right she's like look I I I have 15 pole workers I can't do it right you know the state talks about six pole workers per precinct right we have five that's 30 plus down they do it in shifts and I you know I mean I ideally I think they want to go to three shifts I think that would be great right and so now you're talking about 30 * 3 is 90. So you would think a number would you know to start this the thought of the best number of pool workers it's probably should start somewhere around 90. Um well unfortunately just even the demographics of the town isn't even Stephen right and unenrolled I mean most people are so it's just 70% of and you can't force somebody to be a pole worker it just because of their party affiliation I understand so you have to just follow the guidance of the state and right you have to just work with what you have and you have to make sure and it sounds like in the past they have and I will assure you I will do the same in the future. I'm very confident of that. No doubt about it. It's just again so right. So there is, you know, this is something this board or or certainly the town needs to be, you know, keep in mind with regards to that piece. That's anything further on 5413. Okay. 5414. Uh, primary elections town

clerk determines in writing there is a deficiency in the number of required election offices within 6 weeks. So this talks about the town clerk's ability to say six weeks prior to election. So for uh so in this case the town election 6 weeks prior the town clerk can basically go to the select board and say I don't know if pole workers she would put it in writing determines in writing there is a deficiency and at that point the board doesn't have to pay attention to party affiliation they can do whatever you can do whatever they want and then three weeks prior to the election it's on the town clerk she has the ability to appoint pole workers even I believe out of state I'm not sure about that madam clerk but I out of state people that have registered not even in the state. It's a wide open thing. So I I think this speaks to I think getting back to 5412 when when we talk about gee what if we don't have enough workers and you really shouldn't um limit the the that July 15th to June uh I'm sorry July to August. No, this is why this is in there. So, you know, I realize, you know, arguably 6 weeks prior, maybe it's the thought is last minute, but you can you can add anyone you want onto those u pull worker roles doesn't make a difference. So, you know, that's that's part of that provision in there to say, hey, if we're really pressed for workers, it doesn't make it now. It's not, you know, recommendation at some point the select board can appoint and then three weeks it's the town clerk automatic appointment. Doesn't make a difference. So, that's how they address that in the law. I think that was helpful during like the pandemic. I don't know if that's a current issue right now. I don't know that we'll be in that position. I feel like we do have quite a few pole workers and I feel as if we are doing what we're supposed to do with the unenrolled. We have a lot of unenrolled. So, I mean it would be great if more Republicans were,

you know, signed up to, but they haven't yet. I state right. We'd like to see the balance. I think now it's what 17 to three and so you know it is a thing that you know should be paid but it's not it's not coming from our board over our office. No, I agree and I think it was brought up at one of the meetings. It's like look the the the group that's less underrepresented needs to do more to get those right and so yes you know is that a you know it's almost like I I've always not struggled but it's just like okay the board of registars should do uh voter registration drives. Well, like, you know, can we? Sure. You know, we should we So, so I felt that same way about this other piece. It's just like, so is it completely handsoff, you know, does this board have a role in trying to to try to balance that out? I I don't necessarily feel compelled. I I do feel it's just like, yeah, no, let let whether it's the town committees, let them get in there on that. But at some point, I think the if the imbalance becomes, gee, that's really bad. I I just don't know when we think that you know whether it's intervention much like the registars intercede with with um voter drive is this something we also tried to intercede whether it's a letter to the whatever committee is behind or it's like hey you know the lack of you putting pole workers in under your party affiliation is causing problems further down the line. Well we still need I still need to check to see if the select board sent that. So right I think that would answer one of our questions. Yeah. Okay, great. Y and I would I would see this would apply if you if you had um an RTC or a DTC that was not active, right? So there's no there's no party that's going to even elicit pole workers. So therefore, a town clerk may go forward, send something say, hey, we're looking for members of either party, right? you you know whether that's a public announcement or whether we you know whether that happens when we are doing

whether it's pole worker drives or you know um you know again it's everything seems to run well I've been doing what am I three and a half years I've really been stilled with great confidence as to how elections are running this town I've said it before I'll say it again I I do believe it it's just now it's starting to drill down to our due diligence as a board and I'm not going to be here you know so then it turns into what is you know is is us at least the two of you that I got to at least move on at least a little bit in the into the future as well as the town clerk. Um, you want to I mean this is this is great to have the back Yeah. background understanding of you know what what the role is. So thank you for doing that. But let's keep going. I'm sorry. Any further discussion on on 5414? No. No. Okay. Great. Uh let's see. uh 950 CMR. So, it's it was always funny in my previous life when I was working the CMRS as opposed to mass general laws, which is um it's always a curious thing, but yep, there's another group of mass laws called CMRs. And so, um if you go to the second page 57.03, who um designation of coordinators? So, madam clerk, this question I guess was for you really. Each city or town clerk shall designate a person as the local NVR. So that's national voter reg. We talked about that. Um that's the national uh information coordinator. So would you happen to know who the NV information I'm thinking it's you but I don't but I will find All right. Great. Thanks. Who shall be a person in the clerk's office responsible for voter registration? So I would assume that it is the clerk but I mean I got you. Nope. It's fine. It's it's again, you know, we're trying to drill down on on stuff and so um if you go to the next page, uh registar or

voters must accept accept mail and affidavit. You know, I don't want to beat this to a dead horse, but it you know, registars are thoroughly involved in law. They're thoroughly mentioned in the law. So, registar shall add the person's name, residential address, and again, we've all agreed as this board, you know, madame clerk is the is a registar. So, fine, we're good there, right? um date of birth, party selection, like if you know like we did the national night out. Yes. We did a voter registration Yes. drive there. Yep. Yeah. Yeah. So, and again, this isn't necessarily drives. I don't want to confuse the two, right? This has this this has everything to do with um registration in and of itself, right? So, uh whether it's through a drive or I think I I'm pretty sure everyone's aware, right? So, the registry of motor vehicles submit names to the right. It's Mass Health submits names. Um there's another state agency, right? They've kind of made state agencies like this go to when the people go and ask for help, they forward that stuff to to the VRIS system through the election system. And you know, I mean, for me and some of the stuff, you know, that I've become aware of, it becomes a question of the verification of these whether these whether these folks are actually should be put on voter roles. It seems to be the state kind of says, "Yep, let's move these people forward, put them on, and then it becomes, I think, unfairly on the clerk's office to try to determine whether this person actually belongs on a voter role." Um I I it's So what would like be a criteria where you think that they wouldn't be? Certainly citizenship is a big one that comes up. So they do have to prove that. Well, I understand, you know, the the question becomes how does that system work, right? So, um so it from my understanding with speaking with the state, yeah, they have to provide documentation that they are a US citizen, be it a birth certificate, be

it, you know, other docu I I can't think of the documents off the top. Yep. I hear what you're saying, but I know from the other side of it, right? Like so the stuff I try to do outside of just like um the registry of motor vehicles has not provided documentation. There is a lawsuit. The registry of motor vehicles is not providing documentation how they determine that. Right. And they're asking the you know and and that hasn't happened. So I I appreciate what you're saying. I'm I'm not right. I I hear you like it and and again I think this is this is for your purposes. It's like yep. Nope. State said this is all set. But one of the other things about Massachusetts is they take it for what it's worth when you site. So that I mean that's how Massachusetts sayes. I understand. Right. And and so no, but that has brought like national spotlights to other states that do that same type of thing. It's it's like it's affirmation, right? It's it's personal affirmation as opposed to some type of documentation. Um and so I'm aware of it. You know what I mean? And and again, this is not a reflection of this board or the clerk's office or this is, hey, this is the lot we've been dealt, you know, that comes from Boston. So, I agree with you completely. Okay. So, yes. So, there there isn't any proof that the state the state makes a copy and it's held on their end. Okay. So, I don't have a copy of like the birth certificate or the passport, but when you're registered with the motor vehicles, like you know, a young child getting their learner's permit, they do register them. Yeah. And they have to provide that. They do. Yeah. So, and they also check the box that says that they are US resident is number one on the voter registration card. Yeah. And I point it out to everybody one because it kind of blends into the header because it's a half a sheet, but I always point

that out and I do not accept the document unless it's completely filled out. Yeah. So there are checks and balances. I guess that's the point. I And my point is nationally these checks and balances that the clerk just spoke of have been at some points gotten around. Mhm. I'm This is This is just for us to be aware like I think this is our job to be aware of these things. It's And again, this isn't a Yep. And Right. So, it's just what are we doing? What does Right. So, so when the state receives that, it goes into like a portal and it comes to us and let's just say you live on um Main Street, but you put Main Road in. it isn't automatically accepted. We have to research that and make sure that it's correct. Or let's just say your name is like Amy Marie Smith and I had no space between Amy and Marie. Is Marie my middle name? Is my name Amy Marie? So there's research that's done on each individual one and we can look in the system to see if maybe you're already registered. And so you look under Smith and you look under A and you just you try to make sure that you're doing your due diligence of it. So it doesn't automatically go in. We have to accept them. And if there's a duplicate, let's say I lived in Holden and I moved to Grafton, I would be removed from Holden when I was accepted into Grafton. There are some checks and balances and even the paperwork. It's, you know, I look over it each line. It's important to me that it's done appropriately. And if someone says if I call them and say your application was incomplete, you didn't put your party and they say, "Can you put me on enrolled?" I will not do that. That's they signed that card. They need to complete it. Yeah. Yeah. And that's

that's that's good to hear, you know. And absolutely. Yeah. So, thank you. Mhm. Um, with regards to that, I lost my train. Um, inactive for two benial elections before they get removed. That's in here as well, too. Right. I'll take care of that when I do the confirmation. Yeah. So, that's typ that's a four-year period. Am I right about that? Right. So, um, let's see. Okay. Anything further on 95057? Oh, hang on. I got one more. Uh, going now to 5705. Registars may correct information supplied by the applicant to the extent necessary to maintain the integrity of their records. I think you just touched on that, Madam Cler. Okay. Right. Let's just Yep. They we had had duplicates. I realize that that can happen. It does happen. And it happens even when you have a good list. And I want you to know I am working on it. The list before I came was somebody else's. This list is mine and I'm going to own it. Okay. I pulled an extract. I'm working through it. You know, sometimes there's twins. Sometimes there's the hyphenated name. I'm working through each one. I want you to know that. Thank you. And it's changing daily because the more and more census forms we update. And so I just want you to know that I will do my best to keep that as clean as possible. It's important to me and I will take care of it. Yeah. And that's one of the things if we talk about this new system that comes in that I would love to like you know and you and I talked about this too about Yep. I don't have to touch anything in there. I could just if I was in the office and I was going through and I was like okay here's a dupe. I could come and get you and say hey you know you could be doing your other duties and it it' be like okay yep I see yes that is correct. Let's remove that duplicate so that balance I don't work on the system when

I do that. I work on the extract which I said I would provide for you. Yeah, you know, but either way, that's why I do it, right? Yep. Okay. Uh I did. Yeah. So, the the various state agencies, Medicaid 2, health insurance connector. So, those are some of the ones that submit names. Um and so, and I can reject them if they are incomplete. I can reject them. Just so you know, I can reject them. If there is a misspelling in the name and we already had them in the system, they're they are flagged for me for multiple reasons. Sure, they can be rejected. So, what do you do when they're rejected? You can send them back to them. Okay. And so, I usually send a letter and say that your application was rejected and then I'll send them a paper form and it's usually prepaid because I want to make it as easy as possible for the voter. I mean, you don't want to reject anybody, but if you don't have the appropriate information, you definitely don't want to be the one to accept it, right? That's good. I know that there's a six-month rule, right? So, if I move from A to B, um, typically there's a six-month period where I can still vote in A if I go to B. Do you know if that's true for a local election? It's not for the local. Okay. So, locals are automatic. If they move, they don't have the ability. So, I leave Grafton, I go to Westboro, and I should be immediately, you know, I realize something's going to trigger you knowing that I went there. whether I come into the office or whether Westboro sends you a notification that says I've registered in Westboro. But with regards to the local election, I can't vote from I can't like vote as a Westboro, right? It's you couldn't once I've moved. No, understood. Right. So that kind of creates a little bit of a window there with that with with but Well, it's a little bit on the voter, too. I mean, you have to and I mean, I don't know that if you moved, I pulled the No. Right. So, yeah. I mean, that's kind of the but also that's also the in the eyes of the state of Massachusetts, right? I was just curious about I knew that six month, you know, was like I would have

been allowed to I could come back to the Grafton polls and go as long as I didn't register in Westboro. I could have come back to Graphin and said, "Oh, yeah, I live in Westboro, but it's within six months, but that's not for the local. I was right." Well, it's based on the honor system, too. I can move to Westboro and still come back and vote in a Grafton local election if I haven't told anybody that I've moved and I haven't registered to vote in my new town. So, right. But also like if someone were here locally to know that they could challenge your vote. I mean there's a system in place for that too. Probably I'd be curious how many I mean we could ask the poll workers but I'd be curious how many challenges have occurred in graph in the last five years. I'm just if you mailed in your local ballot, then you wouldn't know any. Right. Right. Right. And again, we're not trying to just look, the system has issues. Just so you know, like let's say you did mail it in, but then you were removed before that the the votes were tabulated. It wouldn't be counted. It's pulled out. Yep. So, great. Okay. Any further questions on that one? Let's see. I don't think I have any further on 95057. I know one question I had in 58. So it talks about the number of voters sent confirmation mailings pursuant to 5137 and the number of responses received. So, I think we're talking about after June 1st, the clerk sends out a confirmation notice that they haven't responded. And this says uh and the numbers received. Do do we keep track of that? That wouldn't be a VRS file, but is that a public record? Well, that would be an extract that I would supply to the mass mailers because they would need to know who is on that list. So, yes, it would be a public record. Okay. Mandatory notices, number sent,

number received. Uh, so yeah. Okay, that's great. So we don't we we would know how many we sent, but we don't check off when we receive the card. And the cards go out a little bit different than the census. So say you're a family of four, you would receive one census. But the confirmation mailing, if you're all voters, then you would receive individual cards. So it's a little bit different. Yeah. Yeah, I see that. Thank you for making that distinction. Uh, and this one also talks a little bit about upon receipt of duplicate registration, the registr shall check the voter status. If the voter is inactive, you should be restored to this active system. If the voter is active, the registr shall reject the record. We're just talking about dupes. We've talked about dupes before. I'm not going to get into it. It's just that opens the door for someone to get a ballot that they shouldn't receive. Okay. So, that's so that's agenda item four. Any further conversation or discussion on that one? What we just went through? All those laws. Thank you, Madam Cler. That was uh that was educational. Thank you. Discuss Grafton Town bylaw section uh article 10 section two and vote to request town council provide a written opinion regarding questions of the laws related to the board. Um so this comes right back to write the I I looked into it to see as a board if we could. So the policy apparently from the town administrator's office is so we have if so this came up and I'm not saying this is what we need to do or you know I I'll go through the state with some of some of my questions but certainly if this board had a question um you know can boards and committees utilize town council yes right it says town council shall when required by several town officers boards and committees furnish a written opinion on a legal question submitted in regard to any matter which concerns the town or them as town officers and shall at times furnish legal advice to any officer of the town who may require the opinion of town council upon any subject with reference to the duties incumbent upon such officer by virtue of the office

which would be us the duties incumbent upon us. Um, it doesn't say it in here, but in checking with the town administrator's office, uh, their policy practice, which again I'm not a fan of, but requests must be reviewed and approved, um, by the TA prior to contact of the town attorney. So, um, any questions we would have if we decided to seek town counsel on any of the stuff that we've talked about with regards to the laws, a legal opinion, we'd have to get it approved by the town administrator's office. Um, it's it's out there. I'm not saying we'll do it. I I'm happy to go through the state elections certainly with 5412, although I I it would have been good if they would have utilized perhaps, but that didn't happen. So just so everybody knows we as a board we can we can utilize town council. Any further discussion or questions on that one? No. Okay. Discuss use of registra signature stamps and request initialing of stamp documents by town clerk staff. Um so we we did have a meeting where we authorized stamps the use of our stamp. It was I have it actually. Yep. So in July of 2022 Yep. Do you have any thoughts that putting your town clerk out on um as far as frequency of upping that? I think where from where you came from necessary. Okay. Y I know in South Bro I believe and I caught it from your your town clerk where you came from. It's like he did it every year. I think every year he would make sure that that was addressed. Oh. So we could implement that policy. But I did confirm that this is authorized to the office not to me specifically. Understood. Um so the you know if the board's comfortable we have talked in the past about our stamp being

used certainly and whether we felt as though and again to your point it gets in the town clerk's way and this has been the way it's been. It gets in their way when they have to you know the stamp thing is a good here they are. Yep. Bang. you know, we've pretty much authorized the use of it as opposed to clogging up the wheels where the clerk's calling us going, "Hey, you need to come down here and sign this." I understand, right? I I understand that part of it. Sure. The question starts to become though, um, so who's doing the checking, right? And so we have a lot of processes that documents get certified. One of them would be whether it's petitions, citizens petitions, whether it's candidates um, running for elective office in the town, right? And so, um, one of the things I noticed in some of the stuff that has come through is I don't know who's certifying those signatures. It's for myself. Understood. So, how would you feel? So, personally, do you understand what I'm saying? So, it's like I saw it. I see them all. There's a check mark there. I've se I have some of the documents. It's like on the back. It's our stamp. Yeah. Um, but I don't know who I I'd almost like who did this work. I don't know who did the work. We can start initialing it. I would love that. So if it's Mike or myself, we can implement that policy. I would love that, John. You know what I'm saying? So just like so we would know because it's our names on the back of it. We would know who actually did that check. And so there'd just be a little initial of who did it, you know, because it wasn't us. No problem. Y basically who who used our stamp, right? Right. Right. And for what purpose? Well, you'll know what purpose because it's on the actual document, but you'll know who actually did it. So if there was ever a question as to, you know, well, who really authorized this, you'll know, you know, AB did on our behalf. Well, I I assume it all rests with you anyway. I think it does. Stops with me, but we will ask. I don't know who did these, Mike. You know what I mean? I don't know who did these. Okay. On the back,

there's all our stamps. So, it's only you and Todd then, not Mike. Mike. Todd. Yep. You know what I mean? So, they're stamped. I've never seen the stamps. Okay. Okay. Yeah. You weren't here, so I get that part. Would would would there be some expectation? You only need three signatures, I think, right? Only three registars. Would there be some expectation that you will be stamping as we move forward? Yes. Okay, understood. Um, one of the other questions that came up, I know, um, can a registra certify his own signature? I again, I don't know if that's the case, but I don't. Okay. It's just a no worries. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Uh I mean you can certify your own like or you can sign your own you know paper but to certify it I feel like okay even if that's not a policy it should be okay. Yeah. We can talk about that later though. Um I would like to see let's see we're going to initial. Okay. So we'll we'll try to institute that today. Yep. Okay. Great. That's perfect. Okay. Any further discussion on number six? I'm sorry. Yep. Yep. Any further discussion on stamp request of initiing documents by town clerk staff? Nope. Okay. Uh item seven, discuss creation of written policy regarding election or appointments by the board of registars. So I think we've kind of covered that one already. You know what I mean? And so we we're going to wait for some legal opinion and maybe just just think about it. You know what I mean? I'm not in a rush or I don't think this board is in a rush, especially if once we hear. So, I think we'll hear on Friday whether there's been names put Oh, no. I'm I'm wrong about that. Uh, I'm wrong about that. So, we'll wait and see. I I don't The deadline would be June 1st, right, for town committees to submit names. It's so Right. So, we won't know. So, just think it through. Yeah. I mean, I can certainly bring it forward to my town committee because I don't think

they've been alerted to that. Okay. Um, but is there a way to institute uh a letter? Yeah, I'm going to check and see if it been sent and then once I confirm that. I'm sure that we'll be able to move that process forward. Have your chair look last year. I will check. Have your chair look and see last year. I'm sure there's a letter there and it's just going to be basically the same thing. It would be I'm the chair of the Democratic town committee. I would like to forward these names for appointment as p as uh election officers is really would be the official term. But um they would have got a letter in the past. I I'm pretty sure I saw last year's letters that went out. So I mean all it would simply be they might have gone out. I might not know about it. It doesn't that's a two-way street, right? They can either any s if they didn't if they've receive if they've gone out yet. If they've received any kind of notice. Yeah. I'm not aware of them receiving any. It's a two-way street though. They can initiate it. Mhm. Or they can, you know, if they want to wait, they can wait, but they can initiate it, too. They don't have to wait. Yeah. As long as it's before June 1st. Right. Right. Okay. If they if they know to do that, that's the way. No, it's true. Right. Right. It is true. So, I will I'm going to call that's a job your chair, you know, needs to. Agreed. Okay. I completely agree. Okay. Uh, so I I think we've Yep. Chair. Yes, sir. Uh, Mr. Jefferson, come on up. Thank you. Uh Andy Jefferson, member of the select board, but just speaking on behalf of myself address, sorry, uh 31 Weston Street. Just want to clarify for everybody. Um the board of registar the excuse me, the um the list for possible registars have already been sent. Um both both requests are sent via certified mail. Uh the request for election workers will be made at our April 1st meeting. We will authorize the

clerk to send those letters out uh in advance of the uh April 15th deadline. So just so you know. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. I had a further question for you though. Um I I I know that it was put on the agenda, but is is it someone's belief that you have the authority to you know what I mean? That's a select board authority based on law. You I don't believe it has to be an item on your agenda, but it's good that you did it right. people can see it. I I assume that's why you did it, but I was just I was like, "Okay." And I think that was it. You You could have just much like the board must do. Seboard, I'm sure, does all sorts of things that don't necessarily go as a vote at your meeting. I could be wrong about that, but um either way, doesn't matter. Tough for me to come up with anything without an example. Typically, it's discussed as as a group and then, you know, consensus. I wouldn't expect anybody to object to the letter being sent out. It's more procedural, but Yes. Right. Yeah. It it just struck me odd is because this year was the first year that the other thing came up that yet even though I think in the past that letter has been sent out certainly the registar letter by the clerk and the board. I think duplicate letters you know um it just caught me as odd that they were but I guess the town is appreciative that the select board puts it on their agenda and everyone can see yep these letters are going out. Thank you for the clarification. Appreciate it. Thank you. Uh okay where are we? Seven, we went through uh discuss process for register discuss various extracts. We already did that, right? So everyone, you know, the boards understand that, you know, we submit them and um our town clerk, i.e. our fellow registar is going to see that we get them. Um discuss production of past minutes. So those are still hanging out there. Madam clerk, I hate to put it on you. um the you know we talked about the law. I can certainly try to give you everything we have. I think Mike has everything we have um with regards to the production of the minutes from those two meetings. So you think he has the minutes or you need me to He doesn't have I know he doesn't I don't think he

has the minutes. I think he's he has the information to create the minutes. Okay. And you know they just haven't been created. So if you want to touch base on them that 114 meeting that was televised and recorded. So Okay. um that will be available for that part. Okay. And obviously the minutes of today's meeting, you know, we'll have on our next agenda for when we get ready to talk about that one. Okay. Any other further discussion on production of minutes? None. Okay. I think we've uh Oh, boy. What time is that? Pretty good. Um, it's 10:18. Oh, 10:19 now. Okay. Okay.