Butler City Council plans to fill its vacant seat by discussing the candidates anonymously.

The city is sending out a questionnaire to the nine candidates interested in filling the seat left open by former councilwoman Lisa Guard’s resignation.

Each of the three remaining council members and newly-elected mayor Tom Donaldson will receive a copy of the candidate’s responses without names.

“We wanted to discuss them anonymously,” Councilwoman Kathy Kline said on Monday. “That way it’s fair.”

The questionnaire will have five or six questions asking why the candidate is interested in the position.

Kline said the city plans to mail the questions this week.

City clerk Mindy Gall said Monday that the responses to the questions will be limited to 75 words and that the deadline for their submissions is Jan. 17.

Council will discuss the responses Jan. 21 and will decide on the replacement that night.

The new council member then would be sworn in Jan. 23.

Council may narrow the anonymous list down to two candidates then discuss the finalists with their identities known.

The city has done similar interview styles in the past to select members of the streets department.

Guard resigned from the final two years of her term at the end of 2013 to move to Erie.

Council has until the end of the month to select a replacement, according to the third class city code.

The candidates are: Bill Criley, Tom Graham, Bill May, Pat McIntyre, Nick Landon, Gregg Reesman, Amy Keys, Phillip Neyman and Corey Roche.

Only Criley, an independent, ran for council in the Nov. 6 election.

The annual salary for a council member is $2,500.