The Farmville Town Council is accepting letters of interest for the Ward B council seat, which was left vacant after former Ward B Councilwoman Sally Thompson’s resignation became effective Dec. 31.

Thompson announced her resignation from the council at a Dec. 6 meeting and cited an upcoming move to North Carolina as the reason for her departure.

“According to the state code, the council has 45 days, so that’s Jan. 1 would be day one,” said Mayor David Whitus. “We have 45 days to fill the seat, and if we don’t, the judge will appoint someone.”

The council voted unanimously to advertise the position, which will be appointed until the May 1 election. The cutoff date for letters of interest is Jan. 25.

The council also appointed Vice Mayor A.D. “Chuckie” Reid to represent the Farmville Town Council on the Moton Council, where he currently serves as vice chair and represents the Prince Edward County Branch of the NAACP. Additionally, the council appointed At-Large Councilman Dan Dwyer to serve on the Barbara Rose Johns Farmville-Prince Edward Community Library Board. These new positions for Reid and Dwyer were both previously held by Thompson.

“It is with regret and excitement that I am writing to inform of my decision to resign from my position as Ward B representative on Farmville Town Council effective on Dec. 31,” Thompson said at the Dec. 6 council work session, reading from a letter she wrote for the council. “In the beginning of January, William and I will be moving to North Carolina to begin a new and exciting phase of our lives.”

She said that over the past 10 years it had been her pleasure to serve her district as well as the entire town.

“I am proud to have served with each one of my town council members,” Thompson said.

She said though she thought coming to Hampden-Sydney College, where her husband worked, and teaching for Prince Edward County Public Schools was wonderful, “moving to Farmville and serving on the town council has been one of the highlights of my 80 years.”

“Working with and knowing each of you has been both an honor and a pleasure,” Thompson said. “I can’t say enough about (Town Manager Gerald Spates) and of course (Town Clerk and Assistant to the Town Manager Lisa Hricko). How blessed I have been, and how grateful I am to each of you. Keep up the good work, as I’ll be watching.”