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HomeNewsLocal newsSt. Croix Elections Board Cancels Second 2017 Meeting for Lack of Quorum

St. Croix Elections Board Cancels Second 2017 Meeting for Lack of Quorum

For the second time this month, the St. Croix Elections Board failed to reach a quorum at a scheduled meeting, forcing the meeting to be canceled again and again be rescheduled.

On Jan. 5, the board’s secretary, Glenn Webster; Adelbert Bryan; and new member Epiphane Joseph waited at the Elections office for more than an hour hoping more members would show up.

Only one member, Chairwoman Lilliana Belardo de O’Neal, had responded she was not available, according to Terrell Alexandre, administrative assistant to the board. Attempts that day to reach Raymond Williams, Lisa Harris-Moorhead and Barbara Jackson McIntosh were unsuccessful, so the three who were onsite waited for an hour and left.

Shortly after the attempted meeting on Jan. 5, McIntosh, acting chairman since a Dec. 21 vote to remove Belardo de O’Neal, called a meeting for Jan. 18.

On Wednesday, McIntosh, Moorhead and Williams appeared at 10 a.m. and waited with members of the media and one spectator for several minutes in hopes other board members would attend.

Belardo de O’Neal had responded, once again, she would be unable to attend; as did Glenn Webster for medical reasons; and Joseph who said it was his birthday. 

After waiting several minutes in case Bryan showed up, McIntosh said they should come up with two dates in February, so members can choose one for the next attempt at a meeting. 

The board members then spoke about the frustration of trying to hold a meeting to organize the St. Croix board for the upcoming year. Williams pointed out there are “matters we need to deal with” and Moorhead said it was “wasting government money” for only half the board to attend meetings.

“There has to be a legal precedence that would cause members to attend meetings,” Williams said.

The agenda for both meetings was to vote for officers for the upcoming year.  A Joint Elections Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday on St. Thomas, with the St. Thomas-St. John district members, who selected officers earlier.

The St. Croix Board of Elections has a long history of discord and low attendance. More than one meeting has erupted in shouting and with members walking out.

The December meeting was marked with yelling, accusations and the chairwoman was removed without being replaced. One member left early and no one formally adjourned the meeting.

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