Summary During the Jan. 22, 2018 City Commission meeting, Commissioner Ben Boukari, Jr. indicated his intention to resign his position due to the discussion regarding the filling of the City Manager position. This item has been prepared in response to such indication.
The resignation of Commissioner Boukari would create a vacancy on the City Commission (Seat 3). The process of filling vacancies is established in the City Charter. The Charter states:
A vacancy of either the Mayor or a City Commissioner shall be filled in one of the following ways: (1) If there are less than six (6) months before the next regular City election, the City Commission by a majority vote of the remaining members shall choose a successor to serve until the newly elected City Commissioner is qualified; (2) if there are more than six (6) months remaining in the unexpired term, the commission shall fill the vacancy on an interim basis as provided in (1) above, and shall schedule a special election to be held not sooner than sixty (60) days, nor more than ninety (90) days following the occurrence of the vacancy. Notwithstanding any quorum requirements established herein, if at any time the membership of the City Commission is reduced to less than a quorum, the remaining members may, by majority vote, appoint members under either (1) or (2) above. If a vacancy is not filled within fourteen (14) days after it shall have occurred, appointment to fill the existing vacancy shall be made by the Governor until a successor is elected under (1) or (2) above.
Following Commissioner Boukari's announcement during the Jan. 22, 2018 City Commission meeting, the City Commission directed the City Manager to contact members of the Planning & Zoning Board to determine their interest in filling the vacancy. Planning & Zoning Board members Virginia Johns and Dayna Miller are the only members who expressed interest in filling the vacancy. This item provides the opportunity for the City Commission to make such appointment, should it desire.
As provided in the Charter, the filling of the vacancy is only on an interim basis until the newly elected City Commissioner is qualified. The election of City Commissioner, Seat 3 will be held on the City's regularly scheduled election on April 10, 2018. |