Mayor Tom Gorman and Ward 2 representative John Kane volunteered recently to begin the review process for applicants vying for appointment to the vacant Ward 4 seat on the City Council.
During a regularly scheduled meeting on Feb. 1, the council agreed to postpone the appointment of a Ward 4 representative pending further review of the applications submitted. It had previously been announced that an appointment would be made during the Feb. 1 meeting. However, due to the unusually high number of applicants for the seat, the council agreed more time is needed to review the applications.
Six applications have been submitted for consideration.
“In my time on the council, this is the highest number of applications we’ve ever received for appointment consideration to any ward,” Gorman said.
The seat was recently vacated — nearly a year before the next scheduled election, which will be held in November 2016. The City Council hopes to appoint an eligible applicant to represent the ward for the remainder the unexpired term.
The council agreed that Gorman and Kane will conduct interviews with each of the six applicants and return with a recommendation.
It is anticipated the council will revisit the issue during the Feb. 22 meeting and move to fill the appointment during a meeting set for March 7.