Last month, the Montague City Council voted to keep Mark Freeland’s seat open until the November 2013 election. But according to the charter, it states that the city council “shall” fill a seat when it becomes vacant, but there is no timeline given.

Montague Mayor Kevin Erb said previously that the city council chose not to fill the vacant seat because all six applicants were highly qualified, making their decision tough, and also because that person would only serve on the council for less than a year.

“I didn’t think it was going to be this hard choosing someone,” Erb said.

The six applicants were Travis Auger Sr., Laurence McMullen, Bruce Froelich, Steven Mayberry, Claude Babcock and Richard Stengenga.

At their council meeting on Nov. 19, Erb recommended that the seat be left vacant, and a motion made by Jeff Auch and supported by Tom Lohman passed unanimously.

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