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Long-serving board member resigns; board weighs appointment versus costly special election
Summary
Trustee Paul Steinle resigned effective Aug. 22 because he no longer lives in the district. The board discussed three options—special election, appointment by majority vote, or leaving the seat vacant until May 2026—and several members said appointment would avoid the time and expense of a special election.
Speaker 1 told the Amherst Central School District board that Paul Steinle, described in remarks as a long-serving board member, resigned effective Aug. 22 because he is no longer a resident of the district. "He is no longer a resident of the district," Speaker 1 said, and opened discussion on how to address the vacancy.
Speaker 1 outlined three options: call a special election within 90 days; appoint a qualified person by majority vote who would take office immediately and serve until the next regular election; or leave the seat vacant until the May 2026 election. Board members questioned the cost and logistics of a special election, with one member referencing a figure of about $14,000 and several members saying appointment would be the most practical way to avoid leaving the seat vacant during the school year.
Speakers (identified by their speaking turns in the transcript) noted that an appointee would likely run in the next election and that a special election could be a significant fiscal and administrative burden. No final motion or vote on the vacancy method appears in the publicly read portion of the transcript; the board proceeded with other agenda business.
Next steps: the board will need to decide whether to appoint a replacement, call a special election within the statutory timeframe, or leave the seat vacant until the next regular election.
