WAGRAM — The town of Wagram has decided not to fill the vacant board seat of the late Jackie Laviner.

The board announced at its meeting on Thursday that voters will select Laviner’s replacement during the November muncipal election.

“Since it’s so close to election time … and we don’t have anyone, is there no reason we can’t leave it vacant?”Commissioner Bernice Gorham said.

Laviner’s was up for reelection along with mayor and two fellow council members. Board incumbents Paschal Stewart and Gorham and newcomer Kendrick Thomas are running in November. The top two vote-getters will serve four-year terms and the third will serve a two-year term.

“There is no reason to get the position filled,” Mayor Milton Farmer said. “That is a board decision and I’ve thought about it, from what I’m hearing from the board is we want to wait.”

Laviner died on Aug. 27. He was 68. He served as town councilman in Wagram for 16 years.

“Jackie was one of a kind,” Farmer said. “Jackie is going to be missed.”

In other business, the board discussed repairing a town waterline. The board said it planned to seek a grant to pay for the repairs.

“What can we do to fix the waterline?” Commissioner Robert McLaughlin said. “It’s a problem once to twice a month.”

Town officials said grant money to help with a beautification project in Wagram, that would include money to cut the grass and make sure all the signs are level.

“There’s a lot we can do to make the town look better,” Commissioner Hyder Massey Jr. said.

By Abby Hackmann

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Abby Hackmann can be reached at 910-506-3171.