The Rome City Commission has tapped Jerry Jennings to moderate the forum where candidates seeking the vacant Ward 2 seat will answer questions from elected officials and residents.

Jennings is a professor of psychology at Berry College, a corporate consultant in human relations and a former Floyd County commissioner.

The forum, set for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Rome Civic Center, is a step in the process to replace Duane Reid, who resigned his seat in February because of a conflict with his job.

The city charter requires the board to appoint a replacement to serve until the next scheduled municipal election, which is in November 2013.

Eight residents submitted applications by the April 5 deadline. They are Shirley Denmon, Tyrone Holland, George Anderson, Mike Finnegan, Detrick Redding, Pete McDonald, Jr., Steven McDowell, Jr. and Ralph Davis, Jr.

City Commissioners are slated to finalize the forum details and appointment process at their meeting tonight. Plans are for the Commission’s vote to take place during its May 7 session.

The board caucuses at 5 p.m. and starts their regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall, 601 Broad St.

Also on the agenda is a presentation by CALEA board chairman Lou Dekmar to mark the Rome Police Department’s recertification as a Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies member.

City Commissioners also will hear of an innovative proposal that would put the public works department in charge of maintaining Bartow County’s traffic signals.

Public Works Director Jamie McCord estimated the city could add about $8,000 to its coffers under the proposed contract. Bartow

County currently depends on a private contractor but called on Rome for help last year when the wait for service dragged on too long.