Roll-call votes going up for vote, State school board wants to save time by Mary Beth Lane - Cleveland Plain Dealer (10-10-95)

COLUMBUS - The State of Education is scheduled to take a roll-call vote on whether to discard roll-call votes in favor of simple voice votes.

Board President Virginia · Purdy, of West Union, who favors discarding roll calls, predicted measure would pass.

The issue is whether individually polling each member on every matter before the board each loath--even including a move to adjourn--wastes time, especially now that the panel has expanded to 19 members.

Board member Vincent Pettinelli of Dublin is leading the charge o exchange roll calls for

voice votes. He noted that last month's meeting featured 40 roll-call votes. "It would just help things along,: he said of his push for a voice-vote system. "We should use the taxpayers' time to focus on the issues that really count."

Agreed Purdy: "I think it will be more expedient. It just makes sense."

But other board members said they fear that abandoning roll-call votes, a practice just begun

last year, would send the wrong signal to the public. It's a question of accountability," argued Anita Tighe, of Concord Township in Lake County. "People should be accountable for their votes."

Voice votes were the practice for years when the board was composed of 21 elected members. After the legislature reduced the board to 11 elected members several years ago, Tighe chaired a board policy and ethics committee that successfully pushed for the board to take roll-call votes. Now the board has 19 members, including 11 independently elected members and eight members named by Gov. George V. Voinovich. The legislature crafted the hybrid board to settle a long-running dispute over whether an elected or gubernatorial appointed board was better.

Purdy and Pettinelli argued the public would hold the board accountable either way, whether members take voice votes or roll calls. Dissenters from the majority in voice votes will still have their votes put in the public record. In addition, Purdy said, today's resolution to discard roll calls will include a provision that three or four members may still demand a roll call be taken when the board is voting on any issue.

"I have every confidence that when we're discussing major issues, we will do a roll call, she said.

State school board may return to voice voting, by Catherine Candisky - Columbus Dispatch (10-7-95)

The newly expanded State Board of Education might replace roll call votes with voice tallies, a proposal that has prompted some debate over the accountability of the 19-member board.

Supporters say roll call votes are cumbersome and usually unnecessary Opponents argue that such records allow the public to evaluate the performance of members. "I do believe you should have to say yes or no because the public has a right to know how you vote. That's what this business is all about - voting on issues," said Marie S. Pfeiffer and elected member from Columbus. But Pfeiffer appears to be in the minority. At a meeting Tuesday in the Toledo area, the board is expected to approve a resolution which would eliminate roll call votes except for the selection of a president or vice president.

Board president Virginia M. Purdy of West Union, said she supports the resolution, noting that at least 40 roll call votes were taken at the board's September meeting. Purdy, who is an elected member, said she will seek an amendment that would require a roll call if three or more members ask for one.

Vincent D. Pettinelli of Dublin, appointed earlier this year to a vacant elected member's seat, said he will offer the resolution in an effort to streamline the board's 2 1/2 day monthly meetings. He said roll call votes have become more time consuming since the board has grown from 11 elected members 5to 10 with the recent addition of eight members appointed by Gov. George Voinovich.

Under current procedures, roll calls are used for all matters. "It's not to keep the public not informed, but the volume of work we do is voluminous, and we need to be tending to important matters." Pettinelli said. "It might not shorten our 2 1/2 day meetings, but the board will be spending less time taking roll call and more time on issues.

Any member at any time can request his position to be placed in the record, which is available for public inspection, Pettinelli said.

Prior to December, 1992, voice tallies had been used by the board Purdy said, "We're a 19-member board now, and it seems like a good time to return to a voice vote except when, at the request of three members, a roll call vote will be done," she said,

Pfeiffer said she does not object to using voice tallies for such matters as accepting reports or adjourning meetings. "All the issues we vote on are important," she said, adding, "You have the right to know how we vote on all the issues."