Quoted from 147

Around 11:30 I was almost #400 ..

Quoted from littlesal

was busy when i was there

wasnt given a number

voted a little before 10am

talked to some old friends that i havent seen in awhile, and they were against this new tax also

didnt see any ambulances there either

they didnt check my ID either!

Quoted from littlesal

was busy when i was there

wasnt given a number

voted a little before 10am

talked to some old friends that i havent seen in awhile, and they were against this new tax also

didnt see any ambulances there either

they didnt check my ID either!

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

Still time to vote  YES  .... head on down to Town Hall before 8 PM.

To help ease the crowds ... those who want to vote no .. can go tomorrow at 8 AM  

Quoted from AVON

DVOR -- When are you voting?

Quoted from bumblethru

How did you know you were almost #400? My sister in law and brother in law went and I asked them what # they were. They said they weren't given a #.  

But they did ask one of the polling people there if it was busy all day and they said that it has been heavy right since 8am. But then again, there is only ONE polling place in rotterdam for this vote.

Quoted Text

ROTTERDAM -- A continuous stream of people descended on Town Hall Tuesday to decide if residents will pay taxes for a local ambulance service.

The polling line rarely shortened throughout the day, in a sight that Schenectady County Board of Elections Commissioner Republican Art Brassard called "rare" for a local election.

"It's been nonstop here since 8 a.m.," said Brassard, who along with Democratic Elections Commissioner Brian Quail provided the voting machines although they were not in charge of tabulating results. "This is as local as it gets."

By half way through the voting at 2 p.m., 1,577 people had cast their ballots. The poll at Town Hall closes at 8 p.m.

The vote decides if property owners will be assessed a tax of 10 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation to keep Rotterdam Emergency Medical Services (REMS) afloat. The topic has often been a controversial one since two ambulance services merged to become REMS in 2004. The town currently pays the local ambulance corps $120,000 a year to assist in building maintenance and equipment purchases. Meanwhile, Mohawk Ambulance, a for-profit company that stands to take over service if the tax district goes down, has actively campaigned for a "no" vote, putting up billboards and sending out mailers.

Tuesday's voting was complicated by the fact that only property owners could participate. People often had to visit the assessment office to double-check records to see if they were eligible to vote.

Marilyn Anderson, 75, was turned away after she learned that it is the trustee of her estate, not the taxpayer, who gets to vote. She previously handed over the deed on her home to her daughter.

"I'm disappointed," said Anderson, who would have voted to keep the local ambulance corps. "But it's not earth-shattering."

Similar questions were raised about Beverly VanWormer's right to vote Tuesday. She and her daughter, Carla Pneuman, were taken to the assessment office by town attorney Joseph Licarrdi, who ran interference all day long for confused voters. But it turned out that VanWormer's home is in a life estate, which means Pneuman doesn't take over the property until her mother's death. VanWormer voted against the tax district.

"I don't know why we need an extra tax," said VanWormer, 74. "I'm not too happy about the politics in Rotterdam."

At one point in the day a woman fell outside Town Hall and REMS responded to treat her. The town public works department also had to measure the distance between Town Hall and a campaign sign that was placed in a median out front. The verdict: the sign was outside the 100-foot parameter required.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

early and often ... I am at home filling out about 100 ballots now

Quoted from pg13

The setup for this election at Town Hall was a total mess. Whoever set it up this way is a total baffoon!