LANCASTER, PA — Lancaster City Council has launched a rapid, rules-bound process to fill a vacant council seat left open by the resignation of former Council member Jaime Arroyo, now the city’s mayor, setting firm deadlines and public meetings to restore a full governing body.
Council on January 13 approved Resolution 11-2026, formally establishing how the vacancy will be filled and opening an application window that runs through January 23, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Applications must be submitted online at https://www.cityoflancasterpa.gov/city-council/, and late filings will not be accepted.
The vacancy was created when Arroyo stepped down from council after assuming the mayor’s office, triggering a charter-mandated appointment process rather than a special election.
Under Lancaster’s Home Rule Charter, eligibility is limited to qualified city voters who have lived continuously in Lancaster for at least two years prior to the most recent general election for council. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, be registered voters, and have maintained city residency since at least January 5, 2024.
Council will review submissions and select up to five finalists during a public meeting on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. A formal motion to appoint a new council member is scheduled to be heard at the regular council meeting on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
City officials said the timeline is designed to balance transparency with urgency, allowing residents a clear opportunity to apply while ensuring council can move swiftly to fill the seat during a period of leadership transition.
The appointment will give Lancaster a full council as it adjusts to a new mayor and confronts policy decisions expected to shape the city’s direction in the coming year.
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