Journey Gunderson, National Comedy Center executive director, discusses the National Comedy Center polling site issue with the Jamestown City Council during its work session meeting Monday. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

Despite the hardship on the business, the executive director of the National Comedy Center said they are willing to continue being a polling site location if it’s legal.

On Monday, Journey Gunderson, National Comedy Center executive director, discussed the National Comedy Center polling site issue with the Jamestown City Council during its work session meeting. She said if the state Board of Elections informs comedy center officials they are allowed to continue being a polling site location — even though they have a liquor license — then it will be considered. She said on Jan. 28, comedy center officials were told by the state Board of Elections that they could no longer be a polling site because the facility has a liquor license.

Last week during the council work session meeting, Norm Green, county election commissioner, said several places with liquor licenses — like American Legions — throughout the state are used as polling sites. He said as long as liquor isn’t being served in the same location as where people vote that the polling site can be in the same location.

“We’ve sought clarification from the state Board of Elections,” Gunderson said. “We’re fine to return to hosting the polling location as soon as someone from state Board of Elections gives us an official statement saying that it’s legal.”

Gunderson said being a polling site has been a challenge for the comedy center the five times it’s been used since the facility opened in August 2018.

She said the June primary date is during the peak of tourist season and having the polling site in the same location as the gift shop does impact business. She said parking is always an issue for the comedy center, especially on the same day the facility is being used as a polling site.

Gunderson also discussed the perception issues, with some residents of Ward 3 telling Vickye James, Ward 3 councilwoman, that they don’t feel welcomed at the comedy center. Gunderson said the comedy center wants residents of Ward 3 and anyone who lives in Chautauqua County to visit, which is why county residents are offered a $6 discount.

“We want them to visit the National Comedy Center,” she said. “We want to do what is best for the residents of Ward 3.”

During past talks by the council on the comedy center as a polling site, the topic of the renovations to the Jamestown Gateway Train Station and the federal funding received has been discussed. It has been questioned whether the facility is still being used as a transportation hub, which was a clause in the federal grant to renovate the former Erie-Lackawanna Train Station.

Gunderson said comedy center officials have reached out to the Federal Transit Administration to find out if the train station being used as part of the comedy center, which brings in tourist buses from outside the area, is following the grant agreement. She also said the comedy center pays $300,000 a year to pay utilities and maintain the rotunda area of the train station, which would be difficult for local nonprofits and the city to fund. She added, even during the pandemic, the public has regular access to the rotunda area.

“I’m confident we are fulfilling our obligation,” she said.

Gunderson said comedy center officials are willing to do what is necessary to work with city officials and local residents to improve the community.

“What’s important here is you all serve because you care deeply about the city of Jamestown and it’s constituents, and I want you to know so do I and so does the entire National Comedy Center team,” she said. “We really are all on the same team.”

Comedy center officials last year informed county election commissioners that the train station’s corridor, which is where the comedy center’s gift shop is located, would no longer be used for election purposes because of the pandemic.

“Due to the pandemic we have restructured our hours and our museum is currently closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. This allows us ample time to provide a thorough cleaning and sanitization of our museum that we have committed to in our Laugh Safe Program,” stated Rochelle Mole’, National Comedy Center vice president of finance and operations. “Due to these unusual circumstances, we are able to offer you the space for the Nov. 3, 2020, elections as we are closed to the public on that day. This is a one-time deal. We will accommodate this year due to the unique circumstances in response to the pandemic, but will insist that you find an alternate location in the future as it is a hardship going forward. It is not open for discussion, but given the pandemic, we are able to accommodate this request in 2020.”

Last month, Brian Abram, county election commissioner, and Green sent a correspondence to the council, Mayor Eddie Sundquist and Jennifer Williams, city clerk, asking for their assistance in finding a new polling location in Ward 3.