Resident says council violated charter by leaving seat vacant, warns of legal action

Erin Short of 225 E. Main Street read a written statement into the record Feb. 2, alleging the Sharpsburg Town Council’s Nov. 2025 vote to leave a vacant council seat open until the Nov. 2026 election violated the town charter and saying she intends to file a writ of mandamus if the council continues to 'stonewall' the issue.

Short’s statement cites a Nov. 2025 council decision and notes that in December 2025 the mayor said the town needed clarification from legal counsel because the charter was "silent" on a timeline and process for filling the vacancy. At the Feb. 2 meeting Mayor Russell Weaver thanked Short for the comment and asked council members to respond; the minutes record that no council members spoke on the matter.

The minutes record the resident’s intention to pursue legal remedies but do not record any formal response from the council, a town attorney opinion, or an announcement of a timeline to address the vacancy. The transcript does not include a copy of the charter provision Short references; the minutes note only Short’s claim and the council’s lack of comment.

Short said she would file a writ of mandamus if the council continued to refuse to act. The minutes do not record any motion, vote, or legal advice at the meeting on this topic.