Commissioners seek replacement to fill board vacancy

HERMITAGE, Pa. -- Any registered city Democrat interested in filling the unexpired term of Commissioner William Scanlon has until 4:30 p.m. Wednesday to submit a letter of intent and r & eacute;sum & eacute; to the city manager's office.
Scanlon, 74, died at his home Saturday, leaving 31/2 years remaining in his term.
He had just been re-elected to office last year after serving 37 years on the board of city commissioners.
The city's home-rule charter stipulates that a person appointed to fill a commission vacancy must be of the same political party as the person being replaced. The appointment will be for the remainder of the unexpired term. Scanlon was a Democrat.
City Manager Gary Hinkson outlined the application process at a commissioners' work session Thursday, pointing out that, in addition to being a registered Democrat, the appointee must be eligible to hold the office of commissioner. That means being a registered voter.
Hinkson said the law requires the remaining commissioners to fill the vacancy within 30 days of its creation and that doesn't give the board much time.
Once the city knows how many applicants there are, the board can schedule public interviews and set a date for making the appointment, he said.
The commissioners' Wednesday meeting has been moved to Thursday after a 6:30 p.m. work session and an interview schedule should be decided at that point, Hinkson said.