Correspondent photo / Amanda Smith Cortland City Law Director Patrick Wilson, left, swears in new city Mayor Jim Bradley on Tuesday night in council chambers. Bradley was chosen unanimously by his fellow council members after Deidre Petrosky was recalled in a special election Feb. 3. The Trumbull County Board of Elections certified the election results Tuesday morning, paving the way for Bradley to take office.

CORTLAND — Jim Bradley will serve as mayor of the City of Cortland after being appointed by fellow city council members Tuesday evening.

“We have amazing people who work here,” Bradley said. “We have department heads who are very capable and who I look forward to supporting. The city will not be a workplace where anyone feels like they have to walk on eggshells or that they are nervous to come to work.”

The Trumbull County Board of Elections earlier Tuesday certified the results of last week’s special recall election, formally removing Mayor Deidre Petrosky from office. The final results were 933 to 302 — 75.55% to 24.45% — in favor of not retaining Petrosky as mayor. Voter turnout was 23.53%, according to the board.

With certification complete, the mayor’s seat officially became vacant under the Cortland city charter, triggering a council appointment process that city officials have said is unprecedented in the city’s history.

Under the charter, council was required to appoint one of its seven members to serve as mayor for the remainder of the unexpired term, which runs through the end of 2027. Council now will have to appoint a temporary councilperson to fill Bradley’s council seat while he serves as mayor.

Council President John Picuri said council will post the opening and ask interested residents to submit their qualifications for the position.

“I very much look forward to working with Jim and the rest of council, and whoever we pick,” Picuri said.

For the past week, Picuri served as acting mayor, a role the city charter assigns automatically when the mayor’s office is vacant or the mayor is unable to serve, allowing the city to continue routine operations such as signing checks and handling other administrative matters.

Picuri also had a message for city residents.

“We’ve got this,” he said. “This will be the hardest-working council you’ve ever seen.”

Picuri said council members are continuing work on several projects that had been under discussion prior to the recall, including the outdoor event and community center, the proposed safety-service complex, and the vacancy in the city service director position.