North Ogden council approves schedule to fill Ryan Barker’s vacant seat

The North Ogden City Council on a unanimous vote approved a schedule and procedure to fill the midterm vacancy created by Ryan Barker.

City Manager John Call told the council applicants must submit hand-delivered applications by Jan. 21 and that public interviews will be held at the Jan. 27 council meeting. He said the appointed person will serve the remainder of the two years on Barker’s original four‑year term and must be seated by Feb. 6; if the council does not seat someone by that date the lieutenant governor’s office has authority to fill the vacancy.

Councilors asked procedural questions about the interview and selection process. Call said the council typically interviews candidates in public, sequestering applicants who have not yet been interviewed so they do not hear questions in advance. He described how the council will vote publicly, and recited state‑code options in case of a tie: either a coin flip or the mayor breaking the tie (citing state code § 20-3-1xx [as recited in the meeting]). Council members also requested to receive the application packets the night they are due so they can review materials before Jan. 27.

Council Member Dalpaz moved to approve the schedule and procedure; the motion was seconded and passed by roll call with Council Members Dalpaz, Carney, Watson and Pulver voting yes.

The council did not set an alternative tie-break preference at the meeting and staff said the ordinance follows the state code on tie procedures. If the council chooses to narrow a large field, Call said the process typically moves to successive rounds of voting until one candidate receives a majority.