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BELLEFONTE -- Due to the unavailability of potential candidates for interview this week, Bellefonte Borough Council has postponed its appointment of a potential individual to fill a vacant seat in its South Ward until Aug. 17.
The decision was made during its regular meeting on Monday night by Council member Joanne Tosti-Vasey.
Tosti-Vasey's motion requested a special meeting be scheduled for Monday, Aug. 17, at 7:30 p.m., for the interview of candidates prior to a decision being made. It also reopened the application period for interested candidates in the South Ward until Thursday, Aug. 13, at 4:30 p.m.
"The reason for doing this is because applicants need to be present at the meeting prior to the vote and we don't have any of those here this evening," Tosti-Vasey said.
Council member Barbara Dann asked if there was prior knowledge candidates wouldn't be available before Monday night's meeting.
"We knew about it Saturday morning," Tosti-Vasey replied.
The seat currently up for grabs in the South Ward was vacated by long-time member Randy Brachbill, who resigned from the position in July.
Brachbill's seat isn't the only open position on council.
At its last meeting in July, council approved the resignation of Shawna McKean, who represented the West Ward and was first elected in 2021.
McKean's resignation is effective Aug. 31, though she was unable to attend council's meeting on Monday night due a scheduling conflict.
Council has 30 days following the resignation going into effect to select a replacement.
For McKean's former seat, it will not be up for re-election until Dec. 31, 2029.
However, the person appointed to the seat will fill the vacancy until the first Monday in January after the first municipal election, occurring 60 days after the vacancy. At that time, an eligible individual will be elected to office for the remainder of the term.
Interested borough residents for either seat can submit an application and resume to the borough office, 301 N. Spring St., Suite 200, Bellefonte, or via email to Assistant Borough Manager Alyssa Doherty at adoherty@bellefontepa.gov.
Applications for McKean's seat will be accepted from now until Sept. 3.