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Roanoke Rapids council sets application window to fill District 2 vacancy after city attorney outlines options
Summary
After a detailed presentation from the city attorney on legal options, the council voted to advertise for District 2 applicants and to consider applications at the Sept. 3 meeting, with a submission deadline the Thursday before Labor Day.
The Roanoke Rapids City Council agreed Aug. 6 to advertise for applicants to fill the District 2 council vacancy and to review candidates at the Sept. 3 council meeting.
City Attorney Davis told the council that under the city charter an appointee serves the remainder of the vacated term and that candidate evaluation and discussion must occur in open session. He described two final-selection procedures: a motion-and-vote process — where a council member nominates a candidate and council holds an up-or-down vote, with the mayor breaking ties — and a ballot option that proceeds in rounds if necessary but does not allow the mayor to break a tie. Davis said the council has used the motion-and-vote approach in prior appointments and recommended it to avoid potential deadlocks under the ballot process.
Councilmembers asked whether candidates needed to apply before a motion-and-vote appointment; Davis said applications can be solicited and reviewed even if the council ultimately uses the motion-and-vote procedure. Councilmember Bryant and others urged an open process that gives District 2 residents the opportunity to apply and, if desired, make brief presentations.
Councilmember Dale moved to post and advertise for District 2 applicants and to review submissions at the Sept. 3 meeting, with applications submitted to city staff by the Thursday prior to Labor Day for packet inclusion. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Strickland and approved by voice vote.
The council directed staff to publish the application notice and to verify residency and voter registration for applicants so packets can include eligible candidates. The city clerk asked whether applicants should be present to present at the Sept. 3 meeting; council left procedural details for staff to finalize.
What happens next: the city will publish the application notice per the schedule council approved. The council may choose the motion-and-vote or ballot option when it moves to select a nominee; Davis said prior practice favors motion-and-vote and that the mayor can break tie votes in that process.
