The City Council, which postponed a vote on moving the voting spot for the sixth ward in October, tabled the motion Thursday.
The city gave a variety of reasons over the last several months for moving the sixth ward polling place, including an effort to increase voter participation, to find a safer driveway, safer walkway or better lighting. Security was raised as an issue. The voting location for the last 40 years is Park Avenue School, which is downtown. The proposal was to move it to the Moose Lodge, which is on the New York side of the Danbury Fair Mall.
The City Council postponed any decision in October, saying the election was only a month away, not enough time to alert everyone.
Several people attended the City Council meeting Thursday fearing the move from Park Avenue School to the Moose Lodge might be decided.
Gary Anderson of Olympic Drive spoke against the move, saying the reasons in favor of the move were gone now that the driveway, lighting and access to Park Avenue School were improved.
"The access is outstanding both for traffic and for foot traffic," Anderson said. "There are no issues about getting in and out of the building. Park Avenue meets the needs and with the renovations it exceeds the needs."
By tabling the issue, it can be brought up or "taken off the table," at any time, said Ken Gucker, a Democrat who opposes moving the polling place. The political reason for the move, Democrats say, is to knock off the two sixth ward Democratic City Council Members, Paul Rotello and Ben Chianese. They won reelection Tuesday in what was probably the city's most heavily worked ward, both through door knocking, mailings and phone calls.
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