Selectmen Michael Schneider and Ellen Begley have called for an emergency meeting of the Board of Selectmen, scheduled for Wednesday, February 15, to discuss whether the town should seek legislation that would allow Schneider's resigned seat to be filled at the annual town election in April.

Citing his "current personal situation" that will require him to "relocate on a permanent basis" and his desire to "focus my energy on my health and the well being of my Family," Schneider notified the Town Clerk's office in a February 7 letter that he would be resigning effective March 31.

The notification came too late to add the seat to the ballot for the upcoming April 3 election, however, according to Town Clerk Mary Ann Silva. In order for that to happen, Schneider would have had to resign by January 30.

The Selectmen are now faced with scheduling a special election -- which could cost the town $10,000 to $15,000, Silva estimated -- or asking the state to approve the addition of the seat to the April 3 ballot.

The agenda for Wednesday's meeting is: "Discussion whether to seek special legislation to allow the forthcoming vacancy on the Board of Selectmen to be filled at the Annual Election, or whether it should due filled at a special election, and to act in furtherance of the results of this discussion."

Town Administrator Mark Andrews notified members of the Board of Selectmen of Schneider's and Begley's intentions via a February 13 letter, a copy of which is posted underneath the meeting notice on the Town Clerk's bulletin board.

"This is Notice that Selectmen Begley and Schneider have requested an emergency Selectmen's meeting...," Andrews wrote, before explaining the purpose of the meeting and citing "Selectmen's Policy 88-12, Section 6B," which allows 1/3 of the Board of Selectmen to request an emergency meeting as long as written notice is delivered in-hand to the other members of the board at least 48 hours before the date of the meeting.

"A copy of this Notice and the Agenda posted will be delivered to your residences," Andrews wrote.

It is unclear whether the candidates who are running for Selectmen Chair Walter Cruz's vacated seat -- the Selectmen seat on the April 3 ballot right now -- would also be in the running for the remainder of Schneider's two-year term.

Town Clerk Silva said the procedure is currently unclear and depends on whether the Selectmen decide to go forward with a request to the state, what exactly they decide to ask for in the request, and whether the legislature approves the request.

The deadline for taking out nomination papers for the April 3 election passed on February 13. Candidates must return their papers -- signed by at least 50 registered voters -- by 8 p.m. on Wednesday.

A special meeting of the Board of Selectmen, scheduled for February 14, was posted at Town Hall on February 10. The agenda listed two items: "Election for resigning board member" and "Any Town business."

The meeting was canceled, however, on Monday.

If a special election for Schneider's seat is held, nomination papers would become available at least 51 days before the election.

Schneider will have spent less than a year in office on the date of his resignation. He was elected to the Board of Selectmen last April in a six-way race for two open seats on the board. Begley won the other seat.

Schneider and Begley are co-founders of citizens group Move Wareham Forward and ran as an informal team. (Move Wareham Forward later registered as a political action committee.)

The special meeting of the Board of Selectmen will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday in room 320 of the Multi-service Center, 48 Marion Road.

For more on Schneider's resignation, click here.