City Court clerk resigns, judge asks for her replacement process to start

City Court Clerk Tyson Bliwernitz handed in his official letter of resignation effective Dec. 31 to Havre City Judge Seigel Tuesday, Seigel said in a letter sent to the Havre city government and the Havre Daily News.

Last month, Seigel handed in her official letter of resignation at a Havre City Council meeting, effective Jan. 21 of next year, and recommended Bliwernitz for the position of Havre city judge.

Bliwernitz said in his resignation that he holds full-time employment in IT security and that he would like to focus his full attention to the job.

“I would like to thank (Seigel) for giving me the opportunity to work in your court and for teaching me from your side of the bench,” he said.

Bliwernitz also acted as the judge pro tempore, acting as judge in the absence of Seigel.

Seigel wrote that the individual authorized to represent her in her absence through Jan. 21 will be her Court Administrator Cathy Lee.

“She is statutorily authorized to act as the City Court judge from my last day on the bench … until (the City Council) have nominated a replacement, but shall not be authorized to serve more than 30 days,” Seigel said.

Financial Director Doug Kaercher said Tuesday that even though Bliwernitz has resigned he is still eligible to apply for the position of city judge if he so chooses. He added that the application process for the city judge is similar to the process for selecting a new City Council member. He said the council has 30 days after the vacancy to find a new city judge and the topic will be discussed at the next council meeting.

Seigel wrote that she is requesting the city take up the issue of finding her replacement at its next meeting.

“On November 19th, my resignation was not on your agenda, so, your inaction at that moment is defensible,” she wrote. “However, there has been no publicized formal action taken by this governing body of this city to nominate my replacement.”

Seigel announced at the Nov. 19 meeting her intent to resign without notifying the mayor or council previously, and nominated Bliwernetz as her replacement at that time.