Lazaro Aleman
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Newly elected Monticello City Councilwoman Katrina Richardson will take her seat earlier than expected as result of unusual circumstances.
Richardson emerged as the winner of the Group 5 council race during the recent qualification period when no other candidate sought the position. Subsequently, Troy Avera, the Group 5 incumbent, resigned his seat, ostensibly to seek the city attorney position left vacant by the late City Attorney Bruce Leinback.
A provision in the city code allows a person to be appointed to a vacant seat, provided that the mayor recommends the appointment and the council approves it.
This the council did on Tuesday evening, July 4, voting 4-0 to allow Richardson to occupy the Group 5 seat for the remainder of Avera’s term, when her own term will kick in.
For unexplained reasons, however, certain council members were hesitant to proceed with the appointment, asking interim City Attorney Mitchell Herring several times to explain the procedure.
Councilman George Evans in particular seemed to have qualms about the process, although he never clearly articulated his concern. Instead, he asked Herring once again to explain the procedure.
Herring did this, reiterating that per the code, the procedure was that the mayor made a recommendation, and the council voted to approve or deny it.
“It’s a fairly cut and dry procedure,” Herring said finally.
“Come on guys,” Councilwoman Julie Conley uttered at one point, growing frustrated with her colleague’s indecision. Finally, the council voted to approve the recommendation.
Richardson will take her seat on the council at the Aug. 1 meeting.
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