Capital Improvement Project Vote – Legal Notice

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Board of Education of the Fort Plain Central School District (the “School District”) on July 30, 2024, that a special meeting of the qualified voters of the School District be and the same is hereby called to be held in the Library of the Harry Hoag Elementary School, 25 High Street, Fort Plain, New York 13339, on Thursday, October 3, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. prevailing time for the purpose of voting on the following proposition:

PROPOSITION

Shall the Board of Education be authorized to: (I) reconstruct and improve various school buildings, facilities and sites, acquire original furnishings, equipment, machinery or apparatus required for the purpose for which such building, facilities and sites are to be used and pay incidental costs related thereto, at a maximum aggregate cost of $10,140,000; (2) expend such sum of for such purpose, including the expenditure of $1,180,000 from the Capital Reserve Fund;

(3) levy the necessary tax therefore, to be levied and collected in annual installments in such years and in such amounts as may be determined by the Board of Education, taking into account State aid received and the amount to be expended from the Capital Reserve Fund; and (4) in anticipation of the collection of such tax, issue bonds and notes of the School District at one time or from time to time in the principal amount not to exceed $8,960,000, and levy a tax to pay the interest on said obligations when due?

The vote upon such proposition shall be by machine, absentee ballot or early mail-in ballot. The hours during which the polls shall be kept open shall be from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. prevailing time or for as long thereafter as necessary to enable qualified voters who are in the polling place at 8:00 p.m. to cast their ballots. Any person shall be entitled to vote who is: (a) a citizen of the United States, (b) eighteen years of age and (c) a resident within the District for a period of thirty days next preceding the October 3, 2024 vote. The School District may require all persons offering to vote at the budget vote and election to provide one form of proof of residency pursuant to Education Law Section 2018-c. Such form may include a driver’s license, a non­ driver identification card, a utility bill, a voter registration card or any identification containing a person’s physical address. Upon offer of proof of residency, the School District may also require all persons offering to vote to provide their signature, printed name and address.

Absentee ballots and early mail-in ballots may be applied for at the office of the District Clerk. Applications for absentee ballots and early mail-in ballots must be received by the District Clerk at least seven days prior to the vote if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter; or on October 2, 2024 if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter. All absentee ballots and early mail-in ballots must be received by the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m. on October 3, 2024.

The District Clerk shall also mail an early mail ballot to every qualified voter othe1wise eligible for such ballot, who requests an early mail ballot in a letter which is signed by the voter and received by the District Clerk not earlier than the thirtieth day nor later than the seventh day before the vote and which states the address where the voter resides and to which the ballot is to be mailed. The District Clerk shall enclose with such ballot a form of application for early mail ballot. The early mail ballot of a voter who requested such ballot by letter, rather than application, shall not be counted unless a valid application form, signed by such voter, is received by the District Clerk with such ballot.

The Education Law makes special provision for absentee voting by “permanently disabled” voters of the School District and any questions regarding these rights should be directed to the Clerk of the board.

The Education Law also makes special provisions for absentee voting for “military” voters of the School District. Specifically, the law provides a unique procedure for “milita1y ballots” in school district votes. Whereas absentee ballot applications and absentee ballots must be received by the voter by mail, a military voter may elect to receive their absentee ballot application and absentee ballot by mail, email or facsimile. The military voter must, however, return their original military ballot application and military ballot by mail or in person. The Clerk of the Board shall transmit the military voter’s military ballot in accord with the military voter’s preferred method of transmission not later than twenty-five (25) days before the vote. The Clerk of the Board must then receive the military voter’s military ballot by mail or in person not later than 5:00 p.m. on the day of the vote.

A list of all persons to whom absentee ballots shall have been issued will be available in the office of the District Clerk from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. prevailing time on each weekday until the day of the vote. Any qualified voter may challenge the acceptance of the ballot of any person on such list, by making his challenge and reasons therefor known to the District Clerk. A challenge against an early mail ballot cannot be based on the reason that the voter should have obtained or applied for an absentee ballot.

District Clerk

Fort Plain Central School District