Commissioner James B. Rutledge III to resign; Bel Air board opens 30‑day appointment application

Commissioner James B. Rutledge III said his resignation from the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners will become effective “at 1 minute after midnight tonight on the October 21” after he completed his final meeting on Oct. 20, 2025. The board presented a proclamation thanking Rutledge for two years of service, including work on short‑term rental regulation and a historic‑preservation tax‑credit ordinance.

The board said it will accept applications to fill the vacancy through an appointment process rather than a special election. Town staff and the clerk outlined a 30‑day application window and a set of requirements prospective appointees must meet to be eligible for appointment.

Under the process described by Town Clerk Michael Krantz and Town Administrator Eddie Hopkins, applicants must have been residents within the municipal limits of the Town of Bel Air for at least six months, be registered voters in Maryland (Harford County and the town), and submit a completed state financial disclosure form. The clerk said the town will post a press release and an online application form and that staff will link to the financial‑disclosure instructions and provide local assistance. The board agreed to collect applications and disclosures concurrently and then screen finalists for interviews.

Rutledge used his remarks to thank the voters, town employees and fellow commissioners and to urge continued civility in local government. “It has been a great collaboration to be a representative of the people of Bel Air,” he said, and added his appreciation for town staff and elected colleagues.

Board members offered tributes during the meeting, praising Rutledge’s legal expertise and leadership. The board did not announce a timeline for interviews or appointment beyond opening the application period for 30 days; staff said the application will go live the next business day and that the clerk will distribute submitted materials to the commissioners for review.

Appointment materials available from the town will specify the residency and voter‑registration requirements and include a link to the state disclosure form; applicants are expected to file the disclosure so the town’s Board of Ethics can review it before a formal appointment is finalized. The town clerk said staff will assist applicants with filing the disclosure if needed.