Do-Over Due Monday on Council Vacancy

LOCK HAVEN — City Council will try again next Monday to this time legally put in place a replacement for resigned council member Lynda Carey.

Council was prepared a month ago to name Machell Scott as the new council member but an eleventh hour legal threat from city critic Stephen Poorman caused council members to back off and start the process anew.

Mayor Rick Vilello said as of midweek this week the same four candidates who had stepped forward in February have once again submitted letters of interest to fill the vacancy.

In addition to Scott they are Doug Byerly, Richard Morris and Randy Strouse.

The four had been interviewed individually behind closed doors following council’s public meeting on March 3. The Record later learned council members privately moved that night to name Scott as the new council member.

The city had been prepared to make her selection official at the next council meeting March 17 but backed off as Poorman’s legal threat, alleging violation of the state Sunshine Law, was delivered the day of the meeting.

That night Vilello announced the city would reopen the selection process to any interested city resident but so far only the original four candidates have applied; the deadline to submit a letter of interest is Thursday of this week.