July 12, 2023 |
Photo – Medicine Bow Sign – Bigfoot99 file photo
The Medicine Bow Town Council voted away its ability to govern after choosing a new mayor Monday night.
Chaos erupted after council member Bradley Buum was elected by the remaining members on the board to replace former mayor Lucy Schofield. Earlier on Monday, Schofield resigned, effective immediately. Urged to act by the crowd of around 50 residents, council member Sharon Kahl moved to have Buum take over the mayor’s seat. Councilwoman Cindy Chase seconded, and the motion passed. Almost immediately following Kahl’s motion for Buum to become mayor, the audience reminded the council that the mayor isn’t able to vote, causing a lack of quorum. Town Attorney Robert Piper of Coal Creek Law in Laramie said Buum’s appointment as mayor, which he did not intervene to stop or counsel, meant the meeting needed to end right away until the Carbon County District Court stepped in to choose two new council members.
On June 12th, following the resignation of council member Casey Federer, the town was left with Mayor Schofield and three council members, Sharon Kahl, Cindy Chase, and Bradley Buum.
Choosing former council member Federer’s replacement was on Monday’s meeting agenda. At the beginning of this week’s meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Buum skipped Federer’s replacement and moved on without addressing the appointment.
Town residents who had turned out for the meeting asked the mayor why the agenda was changed. Mayor Pro Tem Buum said the state was scheduled to arrive sometime in the coming weeks to examine the town’s financial records. The mayor pro tem said he didn’t want to make any changes to the council until after the state directs the town on how to proceed.
Town residents attending the meeting asked if only three council members counted as having a quorum. Others questioned what would happen if a council member was unable to attend a meeting. In that scenario, the town council wouldn’t be able to make decisions.
Councilwoman Kahl said she thought the state’s examination into the town’s finances should be finished soon. Town Attorney Piper disagreed. A Medicine Bow resident attending the meeting asked the town attorney if he was okay with the town having so few council members. Attorney Piper had no comment.
Another member of the audience asked why the state would ask the town not to fill the vacant council position. Mayor Pro Tem Buum said he didn’t know what the state would ask the town to do. Attorney Piper said Wyoming statute 15.1.107 dictates that the council is legally obligated to fill the empty council seat.
Attorney Piper said council seat appointments were part of the meeting’s executive session agenda.
Later in the meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Buum read a resignation letter from Mayor Schofield. In her letter, Schofield said she was vacating the position because the town and council made her unable to govern.
Former Mayor Schofield didn’t give a specific reason why she resigned from the position a mere seven months into her term.
Mayor Pro Tem Buum said he thought Schofield had done a good job and he was sorry to see her leave. Town Attorney Piper said Mayor Pro Tem Buum needed to declare a vacancy in the office of mayor. The mayor pro tem asked if he needed to be sworn in as the town’s new mayor. Attorney Piper explained to Mayor Pro Tem Buum that he needed to make an official statement.
Mayor Pro Tem Buum asked for a motion to fill the vacancy of the mayor’s position. Councilwoman Chace attempted to make the motion but was shouted down by the crowd which urged the council to simply declare a vacancy in the position of mayor. Mayor Pro Tem Buum then asked for a motion to make him the new mayor.
Councilwoman Kahl motioned to appoint Buum as the new mayor. Councilwoman Chace seconded. The motion passed. Members of the crowd pointed out that, with only two members, the council could no longer vote on any other issues.
Attorney Piper agreed, saying the council could not govern without a quorum and the meeting was over. Town members filed out of the council chambers.
The county’s district judge, Honorable Dawnessa Snyder, must intervene and select two new council members. As it stands now, the town council may not legally meet to discuss matters related to the town.
