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Lexington council to meet five applicants for open seat at Feb. 19 workshop; attorney says no formal legal process for appointment
Summary
At a Jan. 15, 2026 workshop the Lexington City Council agreed to invite five applicants for an open council seat to a Feb. 19 face-to-face workshop and required each to submit an employment application by the council's first meeting in February; the city attorney said there is no established legal process for the council to fill a vacated seat.
Mayor Murphy and the Lexington City Council reached a consensus at a Jan. 15, 2026 workshop to invite five applicants for an open council seat to a face-to-face meeting at the council's Feb. 19 workshop and to require that all applicants file an employment application by the council's first meeting in February, officials said.
The move follows Mayor Murphy’s statement that five people had expressed interest in the vacancy and the council’s desire to meet them in person. City Attorney Kurt Glaser told the council, "there is no legal process for a City Council to decide on filling a vacated seat on a City Council," a clarification the council discussed as it considered next steps.
Councilmembers recorded as present were DeVries, Hunt and Mahr. Staff at the meeting included City Administrator Bill Petracek, City Attorney Kurt Glaser and Finance Director Chris Galiov. The workshop convened at 7:38 p.m. and adjourned at 8:53 p.m.
The council's stated plan is procedural: require completed employment-application forms from all applicants and allow a face-to-face meeting on Feb. 19 so members can meet each candidate. The transcript does not specify the date of the council's first meeting in February; the council directed that applications be submitted by that meeting but did not record a firm appointment date for filling the vacancy.
Councilmember Mahr moved to adjourn at 8:53 p.m.; Councilmember Hunt seconded the motion, which carried 4-0. No further council action on the appointment was recorded at the workshop.
