When Freeland resigned in September 2012, the city council asked for applications for the vacant seat, and received six applications.

After roughly two months of deliberating over the six candidates, the board decided to keep the seat vacant until the next election in November 2013. The board made a motion at their board meeting on Nov. 19, 2012 to keep the seat open.

According to Montague City Manager John French, there was no time limit to choose a person to fill the seat. The only spot they would have to fill would be the mayor�s seat, which would have to be filled within 30 days.

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