By Michael Howell
Following Mayor Paul Ludington’s resignation last week, Council President Jim Crews is serving as acting mayor. Crews presided over a special meeting called on April 21, at which the three remaining council members, following the recommendations of Town Attorney Brian West, put the application process in motion to select a new mayor.
The new mayor must by law be appointed by the council by majority vote within 30 days of the previous mayor’s resignation. The appointed replacement would serve until the next election at which point the voters would elect a mayor.
The qualifications for the position of mayor are defined by state law and Stevensville ordinance. To be eligible for the office of mayor, the person must be at least 21 years old, have been a resident of the state for at least three years, and have been a resident of Stevensville for at least two years.
Although the council decided at its last meeting to make the position of judge an elected position, they still need to make an appointment to the position until an election is held. Once again the council followed the advice of its legal counsel. West advised that the council close the process that was instituted and re-advertise the position including that the appointed individual will have to stand for election at the conclusion of the term.
He suggested that individuals with completed applications from the original posting should be permitted to have their applications carry over for consideration “and if someone wishes to re-submit their application anew to correct deficiencies, that should be permitted as well.” From the pool of candidates, interviews can be conducted to address the council’s criticisms of the last nomination process.
West also recommended following the procedure previously in use in which a judicial selection committee consisting of the acting mayor, a council member and someone from the administrative staff would review the applications, interview the top candidates and make a recommendation to the acting mayor to help him in selecting a nominee.
West did not recommend waiting until a new mayor was appointed to appoint a new judge. He said the Town has been without a judge for over a month and it has created administrative problems. If a mayor is confirmed before a nomination is made, it is anticipated that Crews would remain on the selection committee to assist the new mayor in making a nomination.