Emily Gutierrez/Sky-Hi News
On Dec. 21 Fraser Mayor Philip Vandernail announced his resignation. Fraser’s Jan. 3 Board of Trustees meeting was his final meeting as mayor, the position Vandernail has held since April 2016.
Resolution 2024-01-06, which the board unanimously passed, finalized Vandernail’s resignation and appointed Mayor Pro-Tem Eileen Waldow to serve as the acting mayor until the April election.
According to Michael Brack, Fraser’s town manager, Trustees Brian Cerkvenik and Parnell Quinn have openly discussed their intention to run for mayor at previous meetings. Cerkvenik and Quinn both have made their intention to run for mayor clear.
The board agreed neither Cerkvenik nor Quinn should fulfill the position of acting mayor, as it may lead to an unearned advantage in the April election.
Trustee Lewis Gregory expressed interest in serving as the acting mayor.
Gregory said he appreciated Vandernail’s moves to make meetings more efficient, like enacting Robert’s Rules of Order and moving the open forum, where anyone can address the board, to the beginning of the meeting. Gregory suggested he could make meetings even more efficient.
Gregory said he’d like to create expectations around how long each agenda item will take.
Trustees Kaydee Fisher and Katie Soles said they were both too busy to take on the acting mayor position. Fisher advocated for Waldow, saying she had more knowledge of the history of the town and its board of trustees.
The board held an informal vote. Soles and Quinn preferred Gregory to become acting mayor, but Fisher, Cerkvenik, and outgoing mayor Vandernail preferred Waldow.
The board asked the town staff to amend the resolution to affirm Vandernail’s resignation and appoint Waldow as acting mayor. The board unanimously approved the resolution.
Once the resolution passed, Vandernail, who seemed eager to move on, stood up and switched seats with Waldow. Waldow concluded the meeting.
Trustees thanked Vandernail for his service to the Town of Fraser.
Soles, who said she’s been working with Vandernail since they were on the planning commission together in 2006, thanked Vandernail for always doing what was best for Fraser.
Soles thanked Vandernail’s husband Eric, who was involved in forming the public arts committee and expanding Fraser’s arts scene.
“You guys have been a real benefit for the Town of Fraser and the valley,” Soles said.
Cerkevenik said he’s noticed Vandernail’s collection of Hawaiian shirts growing over the past year. “So the writing was on the wall that we wouldn’t have him in the icebox of the nation much longer,” Cerkvenik said.
Vandernail plans to move to Florida in the coming weeks.
Cerkenik thanked Vandernail for his mentorship, efficiency, and fairness.
In his closing comments, Vandernail said it was more often than not a pleasure to serve the Town of Fraser as mayor, and said he looks forward to checking in with Fraser in the years to come.
Other business:
- The Board passed Resolution 2024-01-01 to establish Fraser’s website as the official posting location for meeting agendas. The town will post agendas at Fraser Town Hall and the Fraser Post Office in the event of technical difficulties.
