The city of Chelsea is currently accepting applications for residents interested in replacing Bill Holmberg, who resigned last month, leaving a vacant seat on the seven-person elected council.

Interested applicants must have lived in the city for at least one year and be a registered voter. In addition, applicants cannot be arrears on any bills owed to the city.

The City Council recently set a special meeting for June 19 to review and discuss council candidates. In addition, a work session was scheduled for May 22 at 6 p.m. to discuss the process of choosing a new member.

Interested applicants have until May 29 to apply with the city clerk or download this form. Chelsea City Council applicant form.pdf

Applications should be submitted to Chelsea City Clerk, 305 S. Main St., Ste. 100, Chelsea, 48118.

However, Council Member Rod Anderson requested that the city use a better form for interested residents. “The form we are asking people to fill out, it’s like they are running for office, and they’re not,” he said.

City Manager John Hanifan said council members should discuss a format of questions for candidates. “It’s like choosing a city manager,” he said, adding that this may not be an easy task.

The new council member will be chosen by a majority vote, in this case, by at least a 4-2 vote, and the term expires in November 2015.

City Council members are paid $50 per meeting and there are two meetings a month on the second and fourth Tuesdays, except in December, when there is just one meeting on the second Tuesday.

The mayor receives $100 per meeting.

Since this is the first time the City Council has had to deal with a vacancy since becoming a city, Council Member Ann Feeney suggested that a more thorough process be included in the City Charter.

Lisa Allmendinger is a regional reporter for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at lisaallmendinger@annarbor.com. For more Chelsea stories, visit our Chelsea page.