Council deadlocks on referring charter amendment to staff that would hand vacancies to next-highest vote getter

Taylor City Council debated a proposed charter amendment that would change how council vacancies are filled — the proposal would make the next-highest vote getter from the most recent election the replacement when a seat becomes vacant. The council considered whether to send the proposal to corporation counsel for drafting and timing guidance; the referral motion failed on a 3–3 vote.

Supporters argued the change would return decision-making to voters and prevent perceived 'bait-and-switch' appointments. A council member noted that other municipalities use similar rules, and another argued that putting the choice to voters would restore resident control. Opponents said the council already can consider vote totals as part of its appointment decision and that a charter amendment could have unintended consequences for other offices (mayor, clerk, treasurer). Several residents spoke during public comment: one urged leaving appointment authority with the council to avoid an expensive special election, another urged the council to act rather than relying on voters to decide.

Corporation counsel and the clerk explained procedural and statutory timelines for charter amendments (including a roughly 90-day minimum review window by governor/attorney general offices and county ballot deadlines). Council members asked that corporation counsel outline costs and timelines before moving ahead. The referral vote failed (3–3), floor nominations to fill the vacancy were not made, and the council kept the vacancy unresolved at the meeting's end.