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Council fails to appoint Ward 6 school-board member; matter to be revisited
Summary
The council voted on two nominees for the Ward 6 school-board seat but did not secure the required four affirmative votes for an appointment. Members will revisit the nominations at the next meeting and asked for legal clarification on abstention rules.
Councilors attempted to fill an open Ward 6 seat on the school board but failed to reach the four affirmative votes required to make an appointment.
A motion to appoint Dr. Alvin Harris was made and seconded. After discussion — described by one member as “one of the most controversial or difficult tasks” they had faced — the motion did not receive four affirmative votes and was declared failed. A subsequent motion to nominate the other candidate (referred to in the transcript as Thomas/Osbor) similarly failed to produce the required affirmative majority.
A council member reminded the body that appointments require four affirmative votes. The group agreed to revisit the matter at the next meeting. Councilors also discussed abstention procedure: the city attorney and city manager said abstentions are typically explained on the record and the council could request a formal legal opinion or citation to Robert’s Rules or relevant state guidance for the next meeting.
One council member who abstained explained the abstention as a desire to avoid a tie that would shift decision-making to a judge, citing a past instance in which a judge made an appointment after a deadlocked council.
No appointment was confirmed during the meeting; councilors said the item will be brought back on a future agenda.
