- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
City of Clearlake to seek applicants for vacant council seat
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – On Thursday night the Clearlake City Council voted to take applications to fill a council seat vacated earlier this month.
On Feb. 1, Councilman Russell Perdock resigned in order to apply for the city’s police chief job, as Lake County News has reported.
The discussion on filling Perdock’s vacant seat during the Thursday night meeting began at the 1:10:14 mark in the video above.
City Manager Greg Folsom told the council that Perdock’s term is set to expire in November.
He said the government code requires that within 60 days the council has to call a special election or appoint a new member.
The special election would take place in November at the same time as the regular election would, he explained.
“You essentially have two options,” Folsom said.
Folsom said they could leave the seat vacant until November or appoint a new councilmember. The latter is the route the council has taken with other recent vacancies.
If the council chose to seek applicants, Folsom said the city could release an application on Friday, with the deadline set for March 15.
On March 19, an ad hoc committee composed of the mayor, vice mayor and planning commission chair would review the applications, interview applicants and suggest up to three individuals for appointment, Folsom said.
Folsom said the council would be expected to select an appointee at its March 22 meeting.
There was no public comment on the matter, and with no further discussion Councilman Phil Harris moved to approve a resolution to pursue the appointment process.
Councilman Nick Bennett seconded the motion and the council approved it 4-0.
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