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Severance council appoints Karen Hessler to fill vacant council seat after multi-candidate interview process
Summary
After interviewing five candidates for a council vacancy, the Severance Town Council appointed Karen Hessler on May 13 by a 5–0 vote following three rounds of balloting. The council held a standardized interview process with questions supplied by councilmembers before private ballots were counted.
Severance Town Council members interviewed five local residents for a vacant council seat and on May 13 appointed Karen Hessler to the council.
The council opened a recruitment process for the seat and received six applications; one candidate was absent and removed from consideration. Each applicant introduced themselves and answered the same set of questions submitted by councilmembers, covering priorities for Severance, use of town reserves, and the marijuana sales tax. After two rounds of balloting produced a 3–3 tie between two finalists, the council conducted a third round of votes. The town clerk reported a 5–0 tally in favor of Karen Hessler; councilmembers then administered the oath of office.
During deliberations several councilmembers said they favored candidates with prior local board service and experience working with town staff. Mayor Friess said he had narrowed his focus to candidates with prior service on town advisory bodies because they “can hit the ground running.” Councilmembers also encouraged the candidates who were not selected to remain involved through boards and commissions; staff noted that other committees had openings.
Actions recorded in the public meeting minutes show: the consent calendar and regular meeting agenda were approved earlier in the evening by roll call, the council conducted the candidate interviews during the regular meeting, and the appointment vote was taken by paper ballot before the clerk announced the result. The council then recessed briefly to administer the oath of office to Councilmember Hessler.
The appointment fills a council seat and will be reflected on the town’s official roster; councilmembers said staff would confirm any committee assignments and the timing of Hessler’s first active participation in council business.
