By Greg Ellison

Body examines how to handle processes  in light of restrictions

(April 16, 2020) Seeking transparency while also observing covid-19 health safety restrictions on public gatherings, the OPA Election Committee meeting was live streamed Friday as the group ponders strategy for conducting the upcoming 2020 Board of Directors contest.

Elections Committee Chairman Steve Habeger said although the groups’ primary task begins after the May 10 candidate-filing deadline, last week’s virtual gathering served as a brainstorming session for potential procedural adjustments.

“We talked a lot about how we could do things like the candidate draw for ballot order or even a candidate forum under the current restrictions,” he said.

The committee will resume its discussions in that regard at its next meeting on May 8. The finalized candidate list is due to be presented by the committee by June 1.

“Then we get to work and administer the election in accordance with [OPA Resolution] M06,” he said.

While the future pandemic response remains uncertain, Habeger said the May 8 meeting is scheduled at 10 a.m. and would most likely be live-streamed using Microsoft TeamsMicrosoft Teams video conferencing.

“Probably we’ll do it online again,” he said. “A reasonable person would plan for it.”

Recognizing a lack of precedent for association meetings, Habeger broke new ground last month, when he issued a press release with web link for meeting access.

“I thought that was important to do so … that [association] members or media can watch,” he said.

Despite the switch in how meetings are conducted, Habeger said the election procedures would likely remain largely unaltered.

“We’re going to put out paper ballots just like we did before,” he said. “We’ll get the mail back in and we’ll gather together in August to count them.”

While the pandemic is unpredictable, Habeger said adjusting OPA election procedures to accommodate health safety mandates has presented few hurdles.

“It’s surprisingly adaptable,” he said.

The most noticeable changes would probably involve OPA Board candidate forums.

“We’re not going to have a table with candidates sitting next to each other, sharing the same microphone and probably not with a live audience,” he said. “That’s going to feel a little different.”

Because the forums are not slated until June, the possibility exists some degree of normalcy will have returned by then. Even so, contingency plans will be in place, Habeger said

“I don’t think anybody knows where this is going,” he said. “You always plan for the worst and hope for the best.”