Danbury may move its sixth ward polling spot from the downtown Park Avenue School to the Moose Lodge on Boulevard Drive in the middle of the Lake Place condominium complex.
Republican Registrar of Voters Mary Ann Doran supports the move, but after backlash from the Democratic Town Committee, Democratic Registrar of Voters Marge Gallo no longer supports it. The issue will appear before the City Council Tuesday.
A variety of reasons have been given for the move, including safety at Park Avenue school, over crowding at the school, and 400 new voters added to the ward during redistricting. The voters live on the western side of the ward nearer to the Moose Lodge than the school.
Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton denied this was an attempt by Republicans to suppress voting downtown by minorities or working class voters. The two sixth ward council members, Ben Chianese and Paul Rotello are both Democratic party members.
"This is a move to make the voting safer while Park Avenue School is under construction," Boughton said. "The new polling place is more centrally located."
Park Avenue, Stadley Rough, Shelter Rock and the Mill Ridge Intermediate school are all under construction now with more classrooms and other improvements expected to be completed in 2014.
Park Avenue Principal David Krafick said the parking situation and construction has improved, but the school lost some parking since work started last summer. He said he was told the old parking areas in front and north of the school formerly included 41 spots, and today they have 58. However, a paved but unstripped area south of the school is now sealed off with fencing and blue tarp, and that area of perhaps 60 parking spaces will be turned into classrooms and the school addition.
"Park Avenue is the biggest construction project," Boughton said. "There is a lot of activity there."
Danbury Democratic Party Chairman Joe DaSilva said the construction area is sealed off from the public already, and if construction activity is a danger to the public, why are kindergarten students allowed anywhere on the property?
"You think this might be about voter suppression? Do you think if construction is an issue, they couldn't just send the workers home on Monday before the election and tell them to come back on Wednesday?" DaSilva asked.
The proposed polling place, the Moose Lodge, is located on Boulevard Drive off Kenosia Avenue on the far side of the Danbury Fair mall from downtown Danbury. Boulevard Drive, a dead end, is the entrance to Lake Place condominiums.
"We're in discussion with the city. We haven't discussed payment yet," said Gary Mattson, administrator for the lodge. "We're a hidden entity out here. It is a bit out of the way for a polling place."
The moose lodge is a fraternal organization that is celebrating its 100th anniversary in Danbury this year.
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