The Kaua'i County Council will meet early next month to vote on the appointment of a council member to succeed the late Bryan James Baptiste as mayor.

No date has been set for the meeting but it could occur during the week of July 7, one day after Baptiste's memorial service at the Kaua'i War Memorial Convention Hall. Visitation from from 9-11 a.m. will be followed by a celebration of life.

The Sunshine Law requires the Council to give public notice of the meeting six days before it takes place.

A team made up of Acting Mayor Gary K. Heu, Council Chair Bill "Kaipo" Asing, County Attorney Matthew Pyun, County Clerk Peter Nakamura, and staff has been meeting to discuss the succession issue.

The County Charter charges council members with selecting a council member to serve as mayor.

After the new mayor is sworn in, the council will schedule a special meeting to fill the resulting vacancy on the council. The appointed mayor would serve an abbreviated term, until Dec. 1, 2008, when an elected mayor will be seated to serve out the final two years of Mayor Baptiste's term.

Baptiste died Sunday at age 52. Survivors include his wife Annette and his four children — Brandon, Heather, Lauren and Preston.