The 1st Ward Council seat was left vacant late last month, when Jim Armbruster died from heart-related complications.
“We’ll have our May 4 meeting, at which time we’ll designate a time for interviews,” Mulligan said. “We look forward to getting the applications in to fill Mr. Armbruster’s vacancy.”
To be considered for the vacant seat, applicants must be a qualified elector and must reside within the city’s 1st Ward.
As Armbruster was just three months into his second four-year term when he died, Council is only able to appoint someone to fill the seat until the November 2011 election. Voters will then get the opportunity to pick a representative for the remaining two years of the term.
Council also held discussion regarding the proposed demolition of the city parking garage and the Swallen’s building, estimated to cost the city $1.26 million total.
Councilman Dan Picard, who has been critical of “spending $1 million to create a parking lot downtown,” said he would not stand in the way of the project.
“I would’ve been inclined to vote against it had I been on council at the time, but I will abide by their decision and I will vote for these,” Picard said.
Estimates have the city paying $115,000 annually on the 10-year bond, which city officials claim is not much more than the $100,000 that currently goes into maintaining the parking garage. A surface lot would be constructed at the site of the parking garage, while the Swallen’s building site would be seeded and shopped around for potential redevelopment.
Vice Mayor Anita Scott Jones said the city has spent nearly $2 million over the past 20 years on the garage with nothing to show for it.
“We can’t keep putting the Band-Aid on it and not getting anything out of it,” Jones said. “Nobody wants that building, it’s just time to move forward.”
Council members will get a chance May 4 to vote on the demolition of the buildings.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2871 or rgauthier@coxohio.com.
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