The vacancy on the Macomb Park Board might remain unfilled until after the election in April of 2013.
The seat has been vacant since the death of former board president Lois Nickson in August of last year.
Board members have discussed filling the seat. But board president John Hemmingway told fellow commissioners this month that it is time to end the search.
He said, “The president asks for consent that, failing anybody stepping forward to volunteer, that we proceed without actively soliciting a fifth member for the remainder of that term.”
The board concurred with the president's request.
Hemingway said applicants would face an interview process with the board that could last three months A new member would serve only a short time before facing election. Hemingway does not think that is fair to someone willing to volunteer.
He said “We have had conversations over the intervening months with individuals who expressed some interest but then, for various reasons, were unable to step forward.”
The winner in April's election will fill the remaining two years of Nickson's term.