On Monday, December 1, Mayor-elect Claire Carmelia vacated her Councillor seat, and the incoming City Council will appoint a new councillor to serve out the remaining two years of her current term, which continues through November 2027.
As required by the Westminster City Charter and Municipal Code, the vacancy must be filled by a majority vote of remaining City Councilmembers within 30 days of the new term.
City Council has approved the outlined process and timeline below for Westminster residents to apply for the seat.
Application
Applications closed on Tuesday, December 2, at 11:59 pm. Applicants were required submit a complete application and encouraged to include a resume, cover letter, and additional information the applicant wished to be considered.
If necessary, City Council will winnow down applicants to a group of finalists during the Monday, December 8 City Council Post Study Session Meeting. The finalists will then be interviewed by City Council in public meetings.
Interviews
Interviews will be held Friday, December 12, and Saturday, December 13. More information about the interview process will be posted after December 2. If you have questions or would like more details, please email the City Clerk’s Office or call 303-658-2161.
Qualifications & Duties
- Candidate must be a resident of the City for at least one (1) year immediately prior to the last day for filing the application for such office (one year prior to December 2, 2025).
- Candidate must complete and pass a background check.
- Candidate must be a qualified and registered elector of the City on the last day for filing the application (December 2, 2025), and throughout tenure of office.
- No person shall be eligible for any elective office when in default to the City or to any other governmental unit of the State.
- Each candidate for elective office shall file with his or her application an affidavit that the candidate possesses the qualifications for such office. Failure to file such an affidavit will invalidate the petition.
- No elective officer may be appointed to any City office or be employed by the City during the term of office for which he or she was elected or for two (2) years thereafter, provided that after the expiration of the term of office the person may be appointed as a member of an independent board or commission or fill a vacancy in the position of Councillor.
Meetings and Time Commitment of a City Councillor
City Council conducts four Monday meetings per month. The first and third Mondays are study sessions which begin at 6:30 pm. The second and fourth Mondays are regular City Council meetings, which begin at 7 pm.
Meeting end times vary according to the meeting agenda. Occasionally, City Council may opt to conduct a meeting on the fifth Monday of the month.
Council members also serve as liaisons to up to three City boards or commissions, as well as members of local, regional, and state boards and organizations. Council members are also expected to attend public events on weeknights and weekends regularly.
Every Wednesday, the agenda packet for the upcoming Monday meeting is published on the City’s website, which often contains hundreds of pages of staff memoranda and background documentation that require review in advance of the meeting.
Compensation
Per the Westminster Municipal Code, the salaries of the City’s elective officers are as follows:
| Position | Base | 2025 Amount | 2025 Annual |
| Mayor | $1,400/month | $1,608/month | $20,904/year |
| Mayor Pro Tem | $1,200/month | $1,378/month | $17,916/year |
| City Councillor | $1,000/month | $1,148/month | $14,928/year |
| Monthly Allowances | $300/month | $338/month | $4,068/year |
Questions
If you have additional questions, please email the City Clerk’s Office or call 303-658-2161.