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County official suggests consolidating Jersey Shore polling wards

JERSEY SHORE — Borough councilmembers have a big change to think about: should the borough consolidate its four wards into two?

Forrest Lehman, Lycoming County’s director of elections, proposed the idea to council Monday evening, stating Jersey Shore is one of at least three municipalities in the county that could downsize its number of voting districts.

The voters and county could benefit from consolidation, as it may be easier to recruit pollworkers and the county would have to buy less new equipment before the 2020 presidential election, as mandated by the state, Lehman said.

The county expects to spend about $10,000 per precinct for new polling equipment. Add installation and other services for each of the 86 precincts and the cost will total over $1 million, he said.

However, because Jersey Shore elects its officials based on their wards, the decision is wholly up to the council, Lehman said.

“The Board of Elections is not going to do anything crazy — we’re not going to go to court and say we want to force you guys down,” he said. “It’s a question of not just what is right for elections, but also what is right for the borough. From an elections standpoint, I think it would be great. But only council, the mayor, the people of the borough can decide for themselves whether they think this would make sense.”

First impressions of the proposal seemed negative.

Councilmembers Marguerite Dyroff and Sean Simcox agreed consolidating might discourage voters from showing up to the polls.

Simcox suggested borough citizens might feel less connected if their elected officials represented “half the town” rather than their respective neighborhoods.

“I don’t see where there’s any benefit at all for Jersey Shore,” Dyroff said.

In another matter, the council received plans from the state Department of Transportation for construction detours during the Lawshee Run bridge replacement slated for some time in 2020.

The detours include diverting truck traffic to the Thomas Street exit and sending passenger vehicles over Lincoln Avenue to get to Allegheney Street, said Joseph Hamm, borough manager.

“That’s going to be a mess out on Lincoln Avenue — it already is (a mess),” said Councilwoman Barbara Schmouder.

Council President Michael Zellers suggested the council could issue a parking ordinance that restricts parking to one side of the avenue while it is being used as a detour.

In other business, the council will hold a work session at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 20 to plan its 2019 budget.

The next regularly scheduled council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 10.

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