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Woodfin adopts board-appointments policy; council votes to leave vacant seat until November
Summary
The council adopted a transparent appointments policy for town boards and commissions and subsequently voted 4–0 to leave the recently vacated council seat open until the November election instead of appointing an interim member.
The Town of Woodfin council adopted a new policy Tuesday defining how the town will solicit, interview and reappoint volunteers to town boards and commissions, and later the council voted to leave Councilmember Eric Edgerton’s vacant seat unfilled until the November municipal election.
Town attorney John (last name not stated) reviewed applicable legal principles, distinguishing discretionary town-created boards from those whose membership and terms are prescribed by state law. He referenced chapter 168 and chapter 160D and said state law governs certain boards such as planning boards and boards of adjustment; he also noted provisions in chapter 18B that direct ABC-board appointments. He summarized that the council can create and remove discretionary boards but that statutorily-created boards follow term lengths and removal processes specified by state law.
Staff and the draft policy outlined procedural elements the council adopted: post vacancies 60 days before term expiration; accept digital or paper applications; share applications with the council as received; permit a council interview (optional if only one qualified applicant applies); allow board chairs to recommend reappointments and define “good standing” through board rules of procedure; default to a two-term limit in the absence of a board’s own rules; and require appointments to be made in open session by majority vote. The policy also allows the council to deviate from the process by majority vote.
Public comment and council debate: resident Lolly Frederick spoke during public comment in support of filling the vacant seat, saying a missing member makes board work harder and urging the council to consider appointment so representation remains full. Council members and staff discussed trade-offs between appointing an interim councilmember now — which would give that person incumbency and name recognition advantage heading into the November election — versus leaving the seat for voters in November. Several council members said the proximity of the election and fairness to voters weighed in favor of leaving the seat vacant.
Votes and outcome: the council adopted the appointments policy as presented (motion and second recorded; vote recorded 4–0) and later approved a motion instructing the seat to remain vacant until the November election (roll-call vote 4–0). Council members present and recorded in the vote were Councilmember Young (aye), Councilmember Irvin (aye), Councilmember Khan (aye) and Councilmember Thornton (aye). The mayor presided.
Ending: staff will notify the ABC board chair and the other town boards about the new policy and ask boards to provide their recommendations on any impending reappointments in accordance with the policy.
