Contributed
Alderman Donofrio
DERBY — First Ward Alderman Thomas Donofrio said the city should look into moving Election Day polling places.
He said the exterior of the Bradley School polling location on David Humphreys Road was poorly lit during the Nov. 5 municipal election, and that the location lacked sufficient parking. A disabled vehicle brought traffic to a standstill at one point, Donofrio said.
He said the location was a “nightmare.”
Donofrio’s comments came during the public portion period of the Derby Board of Aldermen/Alderwomen meeting Nov. 14. That’s the part of the meeting during which the public can raise issues of their choosing with the city’s nine-person legislative body.
Resident Frederick Picroski said it was tough for people with mobility issues to get into the Irving School, the city’s other polling location. Picroski noted voters had to walk up a set of stairs to get into the gym, where the voting machines are located.
In addition, when The Valley Indy stopped by the Irving School at about 10 a.m. on Election Day, George Kurtyka, a school board member, told a reporter that a voter in a wheelchair was trying to figure out how to get into the building.
At last week’s Aldermen/Alderwomen meeting, Second Ward Alderman Ron Sill noted there is a handicap entrance at the school, but that additional signs pointing people to it would have been helpful on Election Day.
Third Ward Alderman Charles Sampson noted election officials are allowed to bring ballots to people who are unable to get into the polling place due to disability.
Donofrio suggested the legislators assign the issue to a Aldermanic subcommittee, and that the Derby High School-Middle School campus off Chatfield Street might make a better location because there’s plenty of parking.
