Leslie council declines to appoint school committee replacement ahead of November election

The Leslie Town Council voted on nominations for an open school committee seat but did not reach the four-vote threshold needed to appoint either candidate, leaving the vacancy unfilled until the November election unless the council reconsiders the matter.

Michael Niemeyer, a member of the town’s charter commission, urged the council during public comment to follow the charter’s recommended process and appoint the next-highest vote getter from the previous election. "The next highest vote getter in the previous election will be appointed," Niemeyer told the council, and he named Timothy Killam as that person.

Councilors interviewed two applicants at the meeting: Timothy Killam and Seth Logan. Killam described prior service on the West Philly school committee and work on special-education advisory bodies; he emphasized parental representation and experience with individualized education programs. Logan outlined his background in psychology, small-business ownership and advocacy on curriculum and mental-health policy.

Councilors debated whether to appoint someone now or wait for the scheduled election in under three months. One councilor said they preferred to "wait for the electorate to speak," citing the proximity of the election. The council conducted separate up-or-down polls on each nominee but recorded that neither achieved the required four affirmative votes.

As a result the council declared the seat will remain vacant until the election unless four councilors ask to bring the item back for another meeting. The chair read charter language that generally gives the next runner-up the right to assume office unless other conditions (such as timing or special-election rules) apply.

The council did not adopt a new appointment at the meeting; members said they would accept additional correspondence and could reconsider the matter if there is a request from at least four councilors.