AURORA | First order of business at Monday night’s city council meeting is setting out the path for replacing Mayor Steve Hogan, who died May 13 after a battle with cancer.
Under the city’s charter, a mayoral vacancy is handled similarly to that of council vacancies. The existing city council solicits applications and then decides who gets the job.
Whoever is selected will complete Hogan’s term through the end of 2019. So far, 13 people have applied for the post, including Councilman Bob LeGare, who has said he will not seek a full term in 2019 if he wins the appointment.
The city council tonight during a study session is slated to decide the rules of engagement in the process, including how much of the discussion is held in public or executive session.
If a sitting member of city council is appointed, the move would open a council seat and likely illustrate a growing partisan rift on the non-partisan city council.
In other city council action Monday, Assetou Xango, Aurora’s Poet Laureate, may serve the city two more years. That is, if the Aurora City Council extends the wordsmith’s appointment until 2020.
Council members are set to give an informal decision on the matter at a study session on Monday evening. Dominique Sample, the poet who goes by Assetou Xango, was appointed in 2017, and she has performed at city events.
The program was created in 2013.
City council members are also expected to decide on the wording of a ballot question that asks voters whether the city should keep its photo red light program.
Council member Charlie Richardson expressed concern at a previous study session that if the question is submitted to voters, they will abandon the program and leave the city to pick up the tab on various programs that receive revenue from the tickets.
Nearly $1 million from those tickets funds city programs each year.
A public hearing and council review for the East Aurora Annexation Framework Development Plan is also scheduled for the council meeting.
Council member Nicole Johnston requested the item be brought before council in April. The framework development plan was administratively approved in March.
— KARA MASON, Staff Writer