Council to Pick Interim Mayor At Next Meeting [VIDEO]

The Chatham Borough Council announced Monday that they will announce an interim mayor to replace Nelson Vaughan at the Nov. 28 meeting.

Vaughan  after losing his re-election bid to Council Member .

The delay in announcing the interim mayor stems from a disagreement between Borough Attorney Joseph Bell and a person whose name he did not disclose over what statute applies to the situation.

Bell believes that under the circumstances, the council should follow the same protocol as they would when a council member is unable to complete a term.

In that circumstance, the political party of the person stepping down submits three names for the council to choose to complete the term. In this case, the Democrats, to which Vaughan belonged, submitted to the council on Nov. 10—Nicholas Eck, Marcy Wecker and Douglas Herbert.

Bell said someone contacted him after Vaughan stepped down and argued that another statute, one that requires a special election to fill the vacant position, applies.

"I think my opinion is correct," Bell said, but "we both decided to submit this question to the Attorney General's Office."

A conference call on the issue is scheduled for Wednesday morning, and Bell said he will advise the council accordingly once the call is concluded. Until an interim mayor is selected, Council President James Lonergan will continue to serve as the borough's acting mayor.

"[It's] a little unusual situation," Lonergan said. "Personally it seemed a bit of an irrational deision, maybe a mistake," he said, but went on to offer his "sincere and utmost thanks" to Vaughan for his work as mayor. "I would welcome Nelson to come in before the council to accept his well-earned ceremonial chair," Lonergan said.

The council discussed whether the candidates should be interviewed in executive session. Bell advised the council that "historically, traditionally you have done that in executive session," but "I think it's usually done in open [session]."

The council would ask each candidate, in the order in which their names were nominated, why they would like to be interim mayor and then nominate and vote on someone for the role.