Following Mayor Allen Keen’s resignation on Monday, the City of Menlo is now tasked with appointing a new leader to fill the remainder of his term, which expires on December 31st. According to the city charter, the Menlo City Council must appoint a replacement.

The City Council has two primary options: select one of the current council members or choose an external candidate who has been a Menlo resident for at least 12 months. The situation is further complicated by Menlo’s ongoing transition from two-year to four-year terms for the mayor and council members. Councilmembers Willingham, Jerry Morris, and Amanda Swords have already transitioned to the four-year terms, while Tim Day and Melissa Hines remain on the two-year rotation, with their terms expiring this year. Appointing Willingham, Swords, or Morris could potentially trigger a special election.

City Attorney Arch Farrar noted that appointing Day or Hines would cause less disruption to the existing council structure. Farrar emphasized the importance of careful consideration and encouraged the council to consult with Menlo residents in their search for a suitable replacement. The appointment requires a three-vote majority and must be made in an open meeting. The new mayor will oversee city ordinances, run meetings, and perform other mayoral duties. However, their vote will only be utilized as a tie-breaker.

The Menlo City Council is expected to discuss and potentially appoint a new mayor at their upcoming meeting on April 22nd, aiming to ensure a smooth transition of leadership for the city.