REPORT OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON ELECTIONS
The Honorable,
The Board of Commissioners of
ATTENDANCE
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Present: |
Chairman Suffredin, Vice
Chairman Silvestri, Commissioner(s) Beavers, Gorman, Murphy, Peraica and Sims
(7) |
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Absent: |
none |
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Also Present: |
Brandon Neese - Deputy Cook
County Clerk |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Your Elections Subcommittee of the
Board of Commissioners of Cook County met pursuant to notice on
Your Subcommittee has considered the
following item(s) and upon adoption of this report, the recommendations are as
follows:
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284401 |
COOK COUNTY CLERK, David Orr, by Brandon Neese, Deputy
County Clerk, transmitting a Communication: requesting authorization for the Purchasing Agent to enter
into a contract with Major Scale Technology Management, Inc. (specifically
Kevin McDermott as senior consultant), Oak Park, Illinois, for support in
implementing the recommendations contained in the report of the Election
Review Panel and for assistance in developing additional capability within
the Clerk’s office to support those recommendations. Mr. McDermott will conduct additional
analyses of issues raised by the report.
He will also assist in oversight of Sequoia Voting Systems’
implementation of those recommendations that are the direct responsibility of
the vendor, and will monitor governance of tests and protocols. Additionally, he will continue to work with
the Election Review Panel as it continues in its advisory role to the Clerk’s
office. Reason: Major Scale Technology Management,
Inc. (Kevin McDermott as consultant) served as staff to the Election Review
Panel established by the Estimated Fiscal Impact:
$50,000.00. Contract
period: Approval of this item would commit Fiscal Year 2007 funds. * Referred to the Elections
Subcommittee on |
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284416 |
COOK COUNTY CLERK, David Orr, by Brandon Neese, Deputy
County Clerk, transmitting a Communication: requesting authorization for the Purchasing Agent to enter
into a contract with DANIEL M. MURPHY,
Reason: Daniel M.
Murphy has knowledge of election operations and experience developing
training programs and materials for election workers in jurisdictions around
the country. He is a professional trainer.
Of particular value to us is the fact that he has worked with other
jurisdictions that use Sequoia voting equipment, and thus he is very familiar
with how the equipment works, and already has experience training election
workers on the set up, use, maintenance and repair of the equipment. Estimated Fiscal Impact:
$30,000.00. Contract
period: Approval of this item would commit Fiscal Year 2007 funds. * Referred to the Elections
Subcommittee on |
Brandon Neese provided an overview
of the first contract with Major Scale Technology Management, Inc., with Kevin McDermott as
consultant. Mr. McDermott is to function
as a special trainer for the County Election Division, and oversee and direct
all the testing done on the election equipment, which was one of the primary
recommendations of the panel.
Mr. Neese then described the contract with Daniel M.
Murphy. Mr. Murphy worked with the
Clerk’s office last year and was responsible for putting together the
successful equipment manager program. He
will be working with the municipal and township clerks who are doing early
voting, with the equipment managers that will be staffing those sites, and will
put together training for the warehouse employees.
Chairman Suffredin asked whether the Clerk’s office would be
amendable to an amendment that would require weekly reports to the Elections
Subcommittee on the work performed by these two consultants while the County
prepares for the February 27 and April elections.
Mr. Neese responded affirmatively.
Commissioner Murphy, seconded by Commissioner Sims, moved to amend
Communication Nos. 284401 and 284416 to include language that requires the
contracted entities to submit weekly reports to the Elections Subcommittee
members . The motion carried.
Chairman Suffredin stated that the
Elections Subcommittee will convene meetings that will include the Clerk’s
office as the elections get closer, to make sure that all issues are addressed.
Commissioner Beavers asked whether
Sequoia ever dealt with cellular transmissions anywhere else in the
Mr. Neese responded in the
negative, and further responded that there is not an election authority besides
Commissioner Beavers also asked
whether there has been any dialogue regarding combining the
Mr. Neese replied that the idea is
something that could and should be looked at, and that the Clerk’s office would
be pleased to be involved in such discussions.
Commissioner Murphy asked how the
approval of these two contracts would speed up the elections returns.
Mr. Neese responded that the
primary problem experienced on Election Night in November was the rate of
transmission, both from the precinct and again from the receiving station. This process will be tested fully and the
transmission rate goal is expected to be ninety percent from the precinct. Additionally, there will be a back up system
at the receiving stations which would be done from a wired mechanism.
In response to Commissioner
Murphy’s question pertaining to early voting tabulation procedures, Mr. Neese
stated that the cartridges are brought in to the downtown office on the
Thursday prior to the election, they are secured and are held until Election
Day, then loaded into the tally system.
Mr. Neese further stated that the early votes and precinct downloads
will not take place at the same time.
Commissioner Murphy, seconded by Commissioner Sims, moved that
Communication Nos. 284401 and 284416 be Approved as Amended. The motion carried.
Commissioner Murphy moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by
Commissioner Sims. The motion carried
and the meeting was adjourned.
YOUR SUBCOMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING ACTION
WITH REGARD TO THE MATTERS NAMED HEREIN:
Communication Number 284401 Approved
as Amended
Communication Number 284416 Approved
as Amended
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Respectfully submitted, Subcommittee on Elections xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Larry Suffredin, Chairman |
Attest:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Matthew B. DeLeon,
Secretary