Freie to reapply for Ward 1 seat

By: 
Nick Pedley

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The search for a new Hampton City Council member took an unexpected turn Thursday night following an announcement at the council’s regular meeting.
Ward 1 Council Member Meghan Freie announced that she will not be moving from Hampton and wished to retain her current seat. The council recently accepted Freie’s resignation effective May 31, but an unspecified series of events has canceled her plans to move.
Because the council voted to proceed with the appointment process to find Freie’s successor, she will have to reapply for the Ward 1 seat and be reappointed by the council. Her term expires in November.
“She cannot withdraw her resignation. We had lawyers look into it,” Mayor Brook Boehmler explained. “My opinion would be to keep Meghan on the council and let the voters decide in November if someone else comes forward and wants to serve that ward.”
The council was hoping to appoint Freie’s replacement at its April 9 meeting. Interested individuals were asked to fill out an application at City Hall by April 6, but none had been received as of Thursday. Boehmler did acknowledge some citizens had expressed interest in the position.
Freie intended to resubmit her application by March 30 at noon.
“I appreciate you guys letting me reapply,” she said. “It has been a lot of fun working with this group and I’ll have my application in on Monday.”
Freie was appointed to the Ward 1 seat in July 2014 following Valerie Haugebak’s resignation. Her term expires when the results of the upcoming November election are ratified. The council had previously thought Freie's term expired on Dec. 31, but further investigation found that to be false.
The council will vote on the reappointment at its April 9 meeting. Citizens can still technically apply for the Ward 1 seat.

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