Council to appoint Stanardsville mayor by May 5

by April Taylor
Published: April 17, 2008

The Stanardsville Town Council will meet on Wednesday, April 30, to appoint the next mayor of the town, following the death of Jerry Bortner on March 21.
Bortner served as mayor of Stanardsville for 14 years. His four-year term would have expired in 2010.
According to state code, the town council has 45 days - meaning until May 5—to fill the mayoral vacancy, or the decision shall be left to the circuit court judge.
Town attorney J. Michael Powell advised the town council at its regularly scheduled meeting on April 14.
Towns with populations of more than 3,500 residents require a special election to fill the mayoral vacancy for the rest of the “unexpired term,“ Powell explained. But no special election is required for towns with populations below 3,500. Stanardsville’s population was roughly 476 in the year 2000, based on census figures. 
Therefore, it is up to the council, by a majority vote, to appoint an individual to finish Bortner’s term.
  Town council member Richard Early is currently the vice mayor. In the absence or inability of the mayor, the vice mayor has the authority to act in his place. But he cannot veto any action of the town council.
To be eligible to be mayor, one must be a registered voter in the town of Stanardsville, said Powell.
Stanardsville Town Council members are as follows: Richard Early, Doris Swenson, Gary Lowe and Wilbur Morris.
  If a member of the town council is chosen to be mayor, then the body has an additional 45 days to replace the council slot. 
  Early said this week that he “sees no problem” in making the mayoral appointment by the May 5 deadline.
The town council meets on the second Monday of each month.  The April 30th meeting is a continuance of the one on April 14 and will begin at 7:30pm.