The City Council voted Tuesday evening to appoint former mayor Sam Kushner to fill on an interim basis the seat vacated by Councilman Adam Tomer.
Kushner will serve on the City Council until a special election can be held in November. Also last night, the City Council voted to file, as required by state law, a petition with the Circuit Court to hold the special election.
Kushner was elected to the City Council in 1978 and re-elected in 1982 and 1986. He served as mayor from 1984 to 1986. A native of Danville, he is an attorney and practiced law in Danville for 38 years before his retirement.
At a special work session held last Thursday, the City Council announced its intent to appoint Kushner. During the work session, the Council went into a closed meeting as allowed by state law to discuss possible action to appoint an interim Council member.
Tomer announced in late May that he was resigning his seat effective June 30, saying in a statement that he has accepted a job elsewhere that will not allow him “the time or ability to serve the citizens of Danville.”
Tomer was initially elected to City Council in 2006, and his current term was slated to end June 30, 2022.
Several other matters were on the agenda Tuesday night. City Council voted to:
- Vacate a right of way on Westminster Court.
- Rezone a parcel at 215 Ash St.
- Grant a special use permit for a commercial kennel at 215 Ash St.
- Authorize the city manager to amend its electric capacity hedge agreement with Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG), a regulated utility company from New Jersey. The hedge was for 15 megawatts.
These matters took place during the Council’s business session. Following the business session, the Council met in a work session. In work sessions, Council reviews non-routine matters that will be voted upon in future business meetings.
In last night’s work session, Council reviewed a River District parking study and discussed the purchase of two lots on Washington Street for better access and visibility into Market Garden Park.
Also, the City Council held a closed meeting as allowed by state law to discuss a prospective business or industry related to economic development and to discuss the acquisition of real property or disposition of publicly held real property.