Brookhaven aldermen Tuesday declared a vacancy in the mayor’soffice and scheduled a May 18 special election to fill theposition.

Tuesday’s meeting was the first since Mayor Bill Godbold’sresignation became effective April 1. Godbold was in his sixth,non-consecutive term as mayor when he resigned.

City Clerk Iris Rudman Smith said a special election has to be30 to 45 days after the vacancy is declared.

Smith, in her fifth term, is also resigning, but her resignationwill not be effective until April 12. Aldermen are expected todeclare a vacancy in that office at a special meeting on April13.

Given that time frame, Tuesday, May, 18 was chosen as thespecial election date. A runoff, if needed, would be held Tuesday,May 25.

“If it’s two people running, the top vote gets it,” said Smith,explaining a situation where a runoff would be unnecessary.

Candidates will have until May 7 to qualify for the specialelections. They will need petitions with the signatures of 50registered voters to qualify.

The winners of the mayoral and city clerk special elections willfill the remainder of the terms through June 2005.

In other business during Tuesday’s meeting, City AuditorVerbalee Watts discussed the city’s audit for fiscal year 2003.

Watts said the city is in good financial position. The onlyaudit findings were some expenditures over budgeted amounts, andWatts recommended the city not do that.

Developer John Lynch requested city help with sidewalks near twonew office buildings he and attorney Clint Gardner are constructingon South Railroad Avenue.

Lynch asked if the city would help with the purchase ofmaterial, and he would cover the cost of labor. Rudman Smith andCity Attorney Joe Fernald said the city could not legally do that,but they would provide the labor if Lynch supplied thematerial.

Lynch said that was not what he was looking for, adding that thelabor is the more costly aspect of the project. He said he wouldhandle the project himself, and he was advised to work withBuilding Inspector Steve Moreton regarding city buildingregulations.’

“I’m on a time schedule I’d prefer not to trouble anybody,”Lynch said.