Deadline for open Buckley City Council seat Thursday

The city of Buckley is about to close the door on candidates wishing to be considered for an existing vacancy on the seven-member council.

The city of Buckley is about to close the door on candidates wishing to be considered for an existing vacancy on the seven-member council.

An empty seat exists due to the recent death of Norm Irons, who filled the Position 5 post.

Candidates have until 5 p.m. Thursday, June 19, to make their intentions known. To be considered, council hopefuls must submit both a letter of interest and a city-issued application form. That form is available at City Hall, 933 Main St., or can be downloaded from the city website, www.cityofbuckley.com.

Candidates must be 18, a registered voter and a Buckley resident who has lived within the city limits for at least one year. The Buckley City Council positions are all “at large,” meaning there are no geographical boundaries assigned to each seat.

The candidate selected to fill the vacancy will serve the remainder of the Position 5 term, which expires the final day of 2015.

The City Council is called upon to establish a course of action for city government to follow. That is done by making policy and setting the municipal budget. There’s no shortage of resources for the council to call upon, whether it’s the public, city staff, community groups or others.

According to the city’s announcement, prospective candidates should be able to work collaboratively, be proficient using technology and be able to actively participate in the legislative process, listening to one another’s points of view, considering citizen input, and weighing available options related to complex issues.”

Each month, council members are expected to attend two council meetings, one study session and one or two committee meetings. For their service, they receive $250 per month.