Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Zack Osborn summarizes his qualifications for the Hancock City Council during Wednesday’s meeting. The council voted Wednesday to accept applications for the vacant council position until Dec. 2.

HANCOCK — The Hancock City Council is seeking applications for a new member.

The council voted Wednesday night to post an at-large council position and set the application deadline for Dec. 2. It would then choose the new member at its Dec. 7 meeting.

Michael Lancour was elected to the vacant council seat, but as a member of the Hancock school board could not hold both posts. He resigned the Wednesday morning after the election.

The city has 30 days from Lancour’s resignation to choose a new member.

Margo Pizzi, who finished fifth in the election for four at-large seats, had said at last week’s reorganizational meeting she wanted to be appointed.

Councilor Lisa McKenzie said she had been on the fence, but determined soliciting applications from the public was the proper procedure. Hancock’s city charter follows state election law. After reading the statute, she found Lancour would have had to withdraw from the race within four days after the August primary.

“Truly, the residents did elect him, and he was a member of the council and he did resign,” she said. “Therefore, we have to go back to the way we usually do it.”

Mayor Paul LaBine encouraged Pizzi and fellow November candidate Zack Osborn to apply. Both attended Wednesday’s meeting.

Osborn presented his qualifications to the council Wednesday and said he would be submitting an application.