Committee directs staff to finalize questions, schedules candidate presentations for council vacancy

The City of Brandy Bay Personnel Committee on May 13 directed staff to seek input from all alderpersons and finalize a set of suggested questions for applicants to fill a current common council vacancy, then present applicants at the June 10 council meeting with finalists invited to give fuller presentations at the June 24 meeting.

Alder Johnson, who brought the item, said the city should require applicants to provide written answers so the council can make an informed appointment. "But the understanding here is that we want applicants to provide written responses to something," Johnson said, arguing that applicants for an appointment should offer more information than a name and employer.

City staff and the city attorney explained that the notice of vacancy was posted on May 7 and will remain open for the 30-day period required by state law. "The notice has been has been posted and, will remain open when we get candidates for the 30 day period that's required by state law," a staff member responding to procedural questions told the committee. The ordinance governing council vacancies (section 2-e-2) requires applicants to submit signatures of 20 qualified electors from the vacant district and to file applications and signatures with the city clerk within 30 days of publication; subsequent public presentation of qualified applicants at the next regular council meeting is also prescribed.

Committee members discussed practical steps: giving candidates a set of questions ahead of time (and publishing responses with the agenda packet), sequestering candidates during presentations so they cannot hear others, and holding a committee-of-the-whole or a special meeting for interviews if there are many applicants. Several members expressed concern that short notice could disadvantage applicants who submit close to the deadline. The committee also asked whether the clerk's office would vet petitions and signatures; staff said the clerk would verify residency and elector status as part of the standard process.

A motion by Alder Johnson to refer the matter to staff to solicit alder input and finalize suggested questions, with the plan that applicants be presented June 10 and finalists invited to present June 24, passed unanimously. During discussion the committee asked staff to update the public notice to advise applicants they may submit up to 40 signatures (the ordinance requires a minimum of 20) to reduce the risk that challenges to signatures would disqualify otherwise qualified applicants.

The committee noted statutory options available beyond appointment, including leaving the seat vacant or holding a special election, and that the council is not compelled to appoint a candidate at the first meeting after the posting period. Staff said they would provide a more detailed procedural response before the next meeting.