Kingston board votes to keep a trustee seat vacant until May election

The board discussed three legally available options to fill an opened trusteeship seat: leave it vacant, hold a special election, or appoint a replacement. Trustees noted the short time remaining before the May election and the administrative burden of onboarding a temporary appointee.

A motion to keep the vacancy vacant until the May election was made and seconded. During the roll-call, Mister Spicer and Doctor Verde registered abstentions; the chair announced the motion carried with five votes in favor and two abstentions. Several trustees argued a short appointment window would not justify the expense and effort of a special election or temporary appointee.

Why it matters: Filling a board seat affects quorum, committee composition and representation. Trustees noted that an appointee would serve only until the day after the May election and that the board could still opt for appointment or special election at a future time if circumstances changed.

Vote details as recorded in the meeting: outcome approved; tally announced as yes:5, abstain:2. The transcript records Spicer and Verde as abstaining by name.