Long resigns from Palmer seat

PALMER -- After giving nearly 25 years to Palmer, Diana Long has resigned from the city council. The council is seeking a replacement, but as of earlier this week no one had applied for the vacancy.

Shortly before Christmas, Long turned a letter of resignation in to Palmer Mayor Jim Cooper, saying she needed to cut back on her community service hours for personal reasons. Long was completing the third year of her three-year term after returning to the council in 2000. Prior to that, Long served on the council during a 20-year stretch from 1977 to 1997.

Long could not be reached for comment.

Palmer has since advertised the vacant seat, seeking resumŽs from eligible residents. Just a day before the deadline, however, the city still had no candidates.

"There haven't been a platoon of people running for council seats in my experience here … but there's always been some interest," said City Manager Tom Healy. "I would assume we would have people interested in serving."

In the event that no one comes forward, Healy said the council may have to consider extending the deadline and continuing to seek applications.

However, according to city code, the council must appoint a replacement within 30 days of a vacancy. With Long resigning on Dec. 17, the council is set to make its choice at its meeting next week, just two days before the deadline set by code.

Healy said he anticipates that any interested applicants would be allowed to make a statement at the Jan. 14 regular council meeting, and then the council members would vote.

To be eligible for appointment, candidates must be registered voters in the city of Palmer and have maintained residency in the city for at least one year prior to the date of appointment.

The new council member will serve until October, when the seat will come up for election.