On Dec. 11, Montgomery City Council voted to appoint local business owner Tom Cronin to fill the vacant City Council seat, which was left empty after former City Council Member Dave McCorquodale resigned Oct. 9 to be the new assistant city administrator. Cronin is the owner of the Cozy Grape Wine Bar & Bistro in downtown Montgomery. He has lived in Montgomery for almost seven years, and he has considered running for a City Council seat for roughly a year. Cronin chose to apply for the vacant seat because he said he wants to be a voice for local business owners as well as other Montgomery residents. “The town is growing, and I wanted to be active and help efficiently and effectively manage the growth of the town,” he said. City Administrator Jack Yates said the city accepted applications from mid-November to Dec. 5 for the vacant seat and received two applications for the position. The terms for Cronin’s seat and two other City Council seats will expire in May, Yates said. City Council members are unpaid and act on behalf of the city by adopting ordinances, regulations and declarations regarding city of Montgomery functions.