Fort Thomas City Council is calling for applications to fill a seat that will be vacated mid-term. FTM file.

by Robin Gee

The recent Fort Thomas City Council meeting heard the official resignation of council member Connie Grubbs, who has taken a new position at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. 

RELATED: Connie Grubbs Set to Resign from Fort Thomas City Council

Mayor Eric Haas and council members congratulated and thanked Grubbs for her service and began a discussion on the logistics and legal aspects of replacing a council member mid-term.

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Process timeline and parameters

City attorney Tim Schneider gave a timeline for the process. Grubbs’ resignation would be official the day after the January council meeting. Until the next council meeting on Feb. 22, she would have the option to withdraw the resignation and so it would not be in full effect until the next council meeting. At that time, the clock begins ticking.

After their February meeting, council has 30 days to fill the open position and that person would fulfill the rest of Grubbs’ term, which ends Dec. 31. If council does not replace her within that 30 days, Schneider said, the governor would take over and appoint a replacement.

He advised that all planning for how and when a replacement would be appointed must be done in open session. In fact, he said, all aspects of the replacement can be done in public. Council is permitted to go into executive session only to discuss individual candidates, although even that part of the process can be done in a public forum.

Let’s Make Your Home, A Jolly Home. 

Making the decision

Council suggested that their preference would be to go into executive session to discuss the candidates. 

Council member Adam Blau said, while he is in favor of as much transparency as possible, he did not mind going into a closed session to discuss applicants. 

“We know people pretty well in this community, and some personal things might come up,” Blau said. “So I think you don’t always want all that brought out in public.”

Council member Ben Pendery agreed. 

“I think it’s appropriate to do this in executive session because you want to be able to have an honest discussion…I think it’s important that we properly vet these people so you can choose the right one,” Pendery said. “You can do that in executive session.”

Following the meeting, council put out the call for applications for the position. Applications, which consist of a letter of interest and qualifications statement or resume, are due Friday, Feb. 11, by 4:30 p.m.

A special session will be held Tuesday, Feb. 15, to decide on a replacement. This meeting will be open to the public, but council may choose to go into executive session to discuss the applicants. The meeting will be held in the Mess Hall (801 Cochran Ave.) at 5 p.m. Â