URBANA — The Urbana City Council has appointed a new member to represent the southeast part of the city.
The council voted Monday night to appoint Ashley Withers to represent Ward 6.
Withers is employed by Community Choices, a local non-profit organization that works with people with developmental disabilities. She is a board commissioner for the Urbana Park District and previously served on the Urbana Civilian Police Review Board.
Withers told the council she is excited about the new role.
“And I appreciate in advance your patience as I get caught up and kind of, well-acquainted with the difference in city council from the park district,” she said. “Appreciate you all, and look forward to working with you.”
Withers succeeds Grace Wilken, who resigned from the council seat this past summer. She was among five individuals who had applied to serve out the remainder of Wilken’s term.
Withers will serve as the council member for Ward 6 until local elections next April.
Council approves change to city code eliminating mayor’s voting ability in committee meetings
The council also approved a change to city code that eliminates the mayor’s ability to cast votes during Committee of the Whole meetings.
The change follows a committee meeting earlier this spring when Mayor DeShawn Williams cast a tie-breaking vote to advance a housing development project on West Main Street.
After that meeting, some former city officials said the council previously voted in 2019 to clarify the mayor cannot cast votes in council committee meetings. A subsequent vote later removed that rule, though some council members call that reversal unintentional.
Council member James Quisenberry said at the group’s October 5 meeting, revisiting the change does not prevent the mayor from participating in future committee meetings.
“I think the mayor should be able to engage in that conversation and give feedback, but this is our path as council to put things up for final action.”
The council approved the change clarifying the mayor’s non-voting role unanimously Monday night.