The Nevada City council is poised to fill the vacancy created when Sheila Stein resigned in March to move to England.

On Wednesday night, two ordinances were approved that allow for an interim appointment and then a special election on Nov. 3.

The council will decide at its next meeting how to proceed with the appointment. Mayor Sally Harris, who is not seeking re-election in the June 3 election, said at a previous meeting she is willing to serve as the interim city councilor.

There’s a little more than two years left in Stein’s term.

The council voted 4-0 for an ordinance that allows its members to appoint an interim councilor and 3-1 for the special election. Councilman Steve Cottrell opposed the special election on the grounds that it will cost the city between $12,000 and $14,000.

The council later supported a proposal to draft a resolution to put a second and third measure on the ballot at the request of Cottrell, who said as long as the city was having a special election “it should get the biggest bang for its buck.”

He requested that the City Council approve the drafting of a resolution to add to the ballot a measure asking voters if the city clerk should be an appointed position rather than an elected position.

Cottrell said that two previous grand juries had recommended that the position, which pays $100 a month, be appointed.

Cottrell, who also is not seeking re-election to the council, is a candidate for the city clerk’s position along with Niel Locke, a former city treasurer who testified Wednesday night about the proposed initiative.

Locke said the city treasurer has “even less to do than the city clerk” and therefore should be on the ballot as well.

The council responded by voting 4-0 to ask the city attorney to draft a resolution to put two more measures on the ballot, one asking voters if the want an appointed city clerk and another asking if they want an appointed city treasurer.

They are expected to vote on the resolution to put those measures on the Nov. 3 ballot at their next regularly scheduled meeting on May 28.

In other business, the council approved:

• A Chamber of Commerce request to close city streets for a number of events, including the Nevada City Bicycle Classic, the July 4th parade, Summer Nights, Constitution Day parade, Victorian Christmas, the Storybook Character Parade, and the Mardi Gras Street Faire and Parade. The vote was 2-0. David McKay, who designs t-shits for the bicycle race, and Cottrell, who does work for the chamber, recused themselves from the discussion and vote.

• Voted 4-0 for proclamation commending former city manager Miller for his service to the city.

• Approved 4-0 an $11,000 bid from Thompson and Howe Energy System for a hydropower turbine for the wastewater hydro project that is expected to be completed by September.

To contact Staff Writer Pat Butler, e-mail pbutler@theunion.com or call 477-4239.