Oak Harbor Councilman Bob Severns is busy with his transition to mayor, which has meant a lot of meetings with city officials and stakeholders in the community.

His departure from the ranks of council members also means that he’ll have to be replaced.

The council members agreed this week on a schedule for finding someone to appoint to the council seat that Severns is vacating. The appointee will serve out the two years left on his term.

To qualify, interested people must have a one-year residency in the city limits, be a registered voter and “have a sincere desire to serve the community,” according to the vacancy notice.

Interested persons have to submit a completed application by 4:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 4. The application can be obtained online at www.oakharbor.org or at the City Hall’s utilities office.

City Administrator Doug Merriman explained the process to the council members this week.

Council members will have a special meeting at 3 p.m. Jan. 12 to review the applications and create a shortlist. They will then interview the candidates at the regular meeting on Jan. 19. They will likely go into an executive session to discuss the candidates’ qualifications, but they aren’t allowed to make any decisions behind closed doors, Merriman noted.

The council may then go back into open session and make the final appointment; that person can be sworn in immediately.

For Severns, swearing in as mayor is scheduled for the Dec. 15 meeting, and then he’ll officially move into the big office in the New Year.

Severns said he’s been meeting with city department heads and met with officials at the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station to get a head start on the new job.

“My campaign was about reconnecting, partnerships and working together,” he said. “I see this as a new beginning for the city.”

Severns said he hasn’t seen much of Mayor Scott Dudley, who has some medical issues and has been traveling a lot lately. But he said the staff members he’s met with so far have been very welcoming.

He expects that he’ll be working full-time and more at first and will be able to taper off as things get settled.

“My plan is to really be rolling on Jan. 1,” he said, “so we’re not completely starting over.”