TROY – For the second time in as many tries, Troy’s Board of Aldermen rejected Mayor Ron Sconce’s nominee to fill a vacant seat on the board.

After rejecting Michael Quezada at the Nov. 18 meeting by a 3-2 vote, the same three alderman voted against Linda Colbert, who was nominated at a special board meeting Monday night.

Again, it was Aldermen David Norman, Harold Horner and Rachel Dunard voting against the nomination and not offering any reason why during the meeting.

Sconce has tried to fill the position vacated by Kay Diekemper who resigned in October.

After voting against Quezada, Dunard said she voted no because she wasn’t notified ahead of time of the nomination, preventing her from assessing the nominee in terms of qualifications.

Colbert though apparently reached out to board members before the vote, including Norman. However, he said he still voted no and will continue to do so with nearly any nominee Sconce presents.

“The only person who should be nominated for that position is the individual who lost to Kay,” Norman said, referring to Dennis Detert. “I have nothing against any of these candidates … but if you just give it to somebody, nomination the person who lost the election who has served on the council previously for 15 years.”

Norman said when he became aware Sconce denied Detert’s request to fill the six months remaining on the term, his mind was made up.

“After I found that out, I was like we can leave that open until April,” Norman said. “When Guy Grimstead missed four regular meetings and then resigned, his seat was open for two months, so what’s the difference here. Plus, I think we are doing a pretty good job without it being filled.”

Voters will have the opportunity to fill the seat in the April general election when Gary Leifert and Steven Jones’ terms expire as well.

Following the open portion of the meeting, which included discussion into a new sign ordinance that would include billboards, the board met in closed session to discuss the vacant city administrator position.

The city was informed last week their top candidate for the position, Robert McConnell, had declined the city’s offer. During the closed session, the board decided to essentially go back to the drawing board and contact other candidates to see if they would still be interested in interviewing for the position.

Norman said he’s hopeful the position will be filled before the April election.