City of Oak Creek

Common Council Report

Meeting Date:April 15, 2003

Item No.:         9-10

Recommendation:  That the Mayor and Council –

a.         accept the resignation of Dick Bolender as 4^th District Alderperson, effective 4/15/03

b.         authorize a method and schedule of replacement for the 4^th District aldermanic vacancy

c.         establish response to 4^th District constituent concerns until the position is filled

Background:  Dick Bolender, who was elected in April 2002 to serve as 4^th District Alderperson for a term to expire in April 2004, has submitted his resignation effective April 15, 2003, due to his election April 1, 2003 to serve as Mayor.  In order to fill the vacancy in that office, the Council must authorize a method of selecting a replacement for the remaining eleven months of the term.  The office is up for regular election in April 2004.

The Common Council most recently faced this situation in August 2001, at which time a vacancy in the 6^th District was filled by using an application and interview selection process.

To develop a potential timetable of activity, we assumed that the Council would:

1.         Fill the vacancy quickly, while allowing enough time for interested candidates to apply

2.         Utilize the application/interview method

3.         Limit selection consideration to residents from within the boundaries of the 4^th District although, legally, the candidates could be from outside the district

4.         Announce the vacancy and appointment process through the Oak Creek Pictorial, the reader board, and any other means of advertising that may be recommended

5.         Verify citizenship and conduct police record checks for all applicants

6.         Conduct interviews of all qualified candidates in open session

7.         Ask all candidates the same questions (a list would be prepared prior to the interviews)

8.         As a courtesy to the other applicants, ask all candidates to remain outside the Council Chambers until their scheduled interview time, although they cannot be required to do so.

With those parameters in mind, we are suggesting the following schedule:

Tuesday, April 15           6:00 p.m.                Announce the opening, qualifications (if any), and the process to be followed

Friday, May 9                  12:00 noon             Deadline for applications to be submitted;

Drawing for interview time; candidates notified

Thursday, May 15          6:00 p.m.                Special Council meeting, to conduct candidate interviews and vote on appointment

Tuesday, May 20            6:00 p.m.                Appointee takes office

The Council may choose another method of replacement selection or modify the outlined process, and may adjust the timetable as needed.

The Council is also asked to establish a preferred method of referral for any 4^th District constituent concerns to be used until a replacement is selected.

Fiscal Impact:  Minimal costs may be incurred to advertise or handle the process, but funding is available in the General Government – Miscellaneous expense category.

	Respectfully submitted, Robert L. Kufrin City Administrator
Prepared by and Fiscal Review by: Beverly A. Buretta, CMC City Clerk

File name: S:\CLERK\COMMON COUNCIL AGENDAS\2003\04-15\ALDERMANIC VACANCY PROCESS DISTRICT 4.Doc

Print Date: 4/10/2003 8:59 AM

Revision No. 6