§ 2.04.050. Filling of vacancies.

The council shall, as soon as possible after any vacancy that may occur for whatever reason in the town council or the position of mayor, fill the vacancy by appointment until the next regularly scheduled council election if the vacancy occurs more than thirty days before the nomination petition deadline, otherwise the appointment is for the unexpired term. Before voting to fill a vacancy, the council shall designate whether the appointment is for the unexpired term or for appointment until the next regularly scheduled council election.

If the appointment is only until the next regularly scheduled council election, the town clerk shall prepare nomination packets with two different petitions - a four-year term petition and a two-year term petition. Candidates can choose which term they wish to run for, however, a candidate may not run for both.

At the primary election, the ballot will list the candidates for the four-year terms and in a separate section, candidates for the two-year term. If one of the candidates for the two-year term receives a majority of the votes cast at the primary election, that person takes office after the canvass of the general election. If not, the top two candidates for the two-year term appear on the general election ballot, again in a separate section from those running for the four-year terms. The highest vote-getter is elected and takes office with the other members of the council elected.

The council may appoint in the following manner: the council may publish a request for all interested parties to apply to the council or mayor position; the council may schedule a public meeting where the candidates are able to make a statement and answer any questions the council may desire to ask; the council then may proceed to vote and the first person to receive a nomination, a second and the majority of votes shall be appointed to fill the vacancy.

(Ord. 2005-7, 2006: prior code §2-1-4)

(Ord. No. 2012-01, Exh. A, 1-17-2012; Ord. No. 2014-01, 1-7-2014)