Timeline set for filling State College Borough Council vacancy. Here’s what it looks like, how to apply
After two meetings of discussion, the timeline for the State College Borough Council to fill its vacancy has been set.
Interested residents who wish to fill the seat left by councilman Dan Murphy, who resigned Aug. 17, will have to submit letters of interest by Sept. 8 — and council will vote to select a replacement sometime before Oct. 1, potentially on Sept. 21.
The interim council member will serve out the rest of Murphy’s term, which continues until January 2022. Here’s a closer look at the process and timeline:
- Sept. 8: Application deadline for interested parties. Those who wish to be considered for the vacancy must fill out an online form on the borough website with their name, address, email, phone number and short essay. (You can also attach a resume or other supporting documentation.) To be considered, you must live within the borough and be a registered voter.
- Sept. 10: Special council meeting. The council will begin discussions about those who have applied. Council members will also finalize the questions for candidates to address during their upcoming presentations; the public can also submit questions in advance via an online form.
- Sept. 15-17 (tentative): Applicant presentations. Those who wish to be an interim council member will be given individual opportunities to address the council as part of a brief interview process. Depending on the number of applicants, this could be limited to just one day.
- Sept. 21: Potential vote. Full clarification on the voting process was not available as of Friday evening, but a spokesperson confirmed that it would be similar to the one that filled the mayor’s vacancy. In that process, a council member was chosen at random to nominate an applicant for the position — and the council voted on it. If the applicant received at least four votes, he or she filled the vacancy. If not, another council member would’ve nominated another applicant, and the voting process would’ve repeated as necessary. If the council can’t come to an agreement at this meeting, it will likely schedule another before Oct. 1.
If a majority of the council cannot agree on a candidate by 11:59 p.m. Oct. 1, the Centre County Court of Common Pleas will fill the vacancy.
The borough council voted 5-1 on the above timeline. The main point of contention was whether the interview process was necessary; after all, it wasn’t legally required according to the borough’s Home Rule Charter.
Some council members argued that interviewing every applicant would take too long and take away from more important issues — “There is no way I want to go through 30 or 100 people,” councilman Peter Marshall said — while others felt the interview process was more fair.
“I think we need to be open and transparent and public, and not sit down and check off the three or four people who we may have some knowledge or understanding of,” said councilman Evan Myers, who supported the interviews.
Council was initially split 3-3 when voting on not to include the interviews, but two council members relented on the next vote that did include the interviews.
The next scheduled regular council meeting is 7 p.m. Sept. 14.
