Committee meeting called to consider Jonesboro council vacancy
by January 24, 2016 11:16 am 137 views
Members of the Jonesboro City Council Nominating and Rules Committee will meet Tuesday (Jan. 26) to consider the vacancy created by the resignation of Alderman Tim McCall.
The 3:30 p.m. meeting will be held at the Jonesboro Municipal Center, interim communications director Roy Ockert said late Friday.
McCall, the senior alderman, has held position 1 in Ward 6 since 1997, but he announced at last Tuesday’s council meeting he is moving out of the ward. Aldermen are elected citywide but must live within the ward they serve. McCall’s present 4-year term expires Dec. 31, 2018.
In the case of a vacancy occurring for an alderman whose unexpired term is more than one year, state law allows cities with a population of 20,000 or more to either fill the vacancy by a majority vote of the remaining aldermen or to call a special election.
However, Mayor Harold Perrin said the council passed a resolution in 2014, specifying that the council can fill such a vacancy in some cases, but if more than two years remain on the term, a special election should be called.
Another provision in the resolution adds this option: “If there is a reason that would make it impractical to hold a special election, a two-thirds vote of the sitting aldermen can determine that the position be filled by a vote of the aldermen, no matter the length left in the vacant term.”
After consulting with City Attorney Carol Duncan, Perrin said he decided to refer the issue to the Nominating and Rules Committee. The council’s next meeting is Feb. 2.