As a means to protect the City of Great Bend and assure all residents are equally represented, the City Council Monday night approved an ordinance outlining how it can fill vacancies on the governing body (made up of the council and the mayor), specifically those created by a “non-functioning” member. “The city currently has no clear definition of what creates a vacancy or any procedure to address the situation where a person is elected to a position on the governing body but fails or refuses to accept the office, take the oath and/or attend meetings,” City Attorney Allen Glendenning said. This either leaves a portion of the citizenry not fully represented or leaves the city with only the cumbersome, lengthy and expensive processes of ouster or a recall election.
Source: Great Bend Tribune
