People of Moorhead Questioning City Council Selection Process

A seat on the Moorhead City Council remains open after members changed course on the selection process.

Many people were upset about the process, not the person initially selected.

“I gave you a heads up this morning that for that reason I will veto this,” said Moorhead Mayor Del Rae Williams, about a motion to approve the appointment of Melissa Fabian.

The resolution to finalize the appointment of a new council member filled up Moorhead City Hall.

The controversy began when council members decided to appoint an applicant to fill Jim Haney’s seat after he was elected to the county commission.

They didn’t interview all 15 candidates that had applied.

“If we don’t go through a process that makes sense and people feel fair about it, then people will always talk about the process,” said Williams.

Many people joined the conversation about the appointment of Melissa Fabian.

“I have the upmost respect for Melissa as I Have seen her in action throughout the years and I couldn’t have asked for a better representative for me, ” said Nicole Carlson of Moorhead.

Among the group of people who spoke in front of the council were people who applied for the position.

“Those who are on the outside of the community , who are on the outside looking in, wondering if there in an agenda, if they are looking at those numbers and looking at those things they may be coming to their own conclusions,” said applicant Drew Sandberg.

“I am extremely disappointed in the council for going back on something that was said in writing to the candidates,” said applicant Shelly Carlson,

The mayor will look at a new process immediately, and then on the 19th candidates will be interviewed.

Council member Heidi Durand motioned to find a better solution for the future.

“Design a process that meets charter criteria and is also vetted by the league of Minnesota’s legal team. I would ask that the council adopt such policy and have it in the book for the next council. Should future councils need to fill a council vacancy,” said Durand.

That motion passed unanimously.

With this new process that the council is moving forward with, the mayor says she will not veto whatever the outcome is.