By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
The official search for former Trustee Stephen Denman’s replacement on the Waterford Village Board is underway, following a series of recent maneuvers.
Denman on June 22 submitted his resignation letter, a week after the board voted 4-2 in favor of switching public safety contractors from the Racine County Sheriff to the Town of Waterford. Denman was an outspoken critic of the proposal as it was reviewed in recent months.
At a Village Board meeting July 13, the six remaining board members discussed next steps for keeping Denman’s seat warm through next spring, when voters will weigh in on a permanent successor.
Village President Tom Roanhouse this week revealed three residents have thrown their hats in the ring. Residents interested in serving on the board through next April can submit application materials to Roanhouse and Interim Village Administrator Tina Chitwood through 5 p.m. next Wednesday, July 22.
The board will interview each of the candidates before a decision on the appointee is made.
In reviewing the municipal code, Village Attorney Marcy Hasenstab said at least four of the six remaining board members will have to agree on one of the candidates for the appointment process to be consummated.
With a firm cut-off date in place, the board could make its decision on an appointee as soon as July 27, when the next regular meeting is held, or delay a decision to the Aug. 10 meeting.
Board members this week also wrangled over some of the granular details involved in searching for Denman’s temporary seat-holder. Plans call for voting through an open ballot system, meaning each board member’s recommendation will be publicly known.
“We owe it to be fair and professional to the candidates,” Roanhouse said of the logistics surrounding the vote.
While appointing a resident to fill the remaining term of a seat on the Waterford Village Board is not unprecedented, Roanhouse noted this is the first time in modern history that multiple residents have expressed interest in the vacancy at once.
“In the past, it’s always been just one person,” Roanhouse said.
In his resignation letter, Denman expressed concern over the incumbent Village Board’s spending decisions as the reason he chose to relinquish his seat.
“In the past year, I have struggled with some of the financial decisions coming from this board,” Denman wrote. “I wish that I could make sense of it, but as much as I try, I cannot.”
While he has left elected office, Denman in his letter indicated he will continue to keep tabs on village-related issues, particularly as matters concerning public safety funding bubble to the surface.
“I will certainly be watching as a taxpayer,” Denman wrote in the letter.
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