EASTHAMPTON – As of Sept. 25, the city council has a vacant seat after William Lynch resigned after serving just under two years.

City Council President Peg Conniff said she is aware of the challenges that the pandemic is putting on everyone specifically the city councilors. Conniff said there is a significant time commitment to their roles that is easier to manage when there is a level of predictability and consistency in their own lives.

“When that becomes challenging and we are dealing with change and the unknown, each of us makes decisions based on what is best and most important for ourselves and our families. I know Bill gave this a lot of thought and I respect him for making a choice that is right for his family,” Conniff said.

In Lynch’s resignation letter he expressed that over the last year his life has changed significantly. He has been promoted twice at his job, his wife works from home, his son has started remote school learning, and there is still a pandemic happening. Because he has been busy he said he has missed two meetings, had to reschedule a third, and not returned emails to residents on time or at all.

“Between everything going on and the time and dedication needed for the council I feel I am neglecting my family and not giving them enough of my time, with the remote learning more time at home is needed,” Lynch said.

He said when he became a councilor, life was a lot different and manageable. He indicated he takes pride in what he commits to and if he says he will do something, he likes to give it 100 percent and he felt like he was not giving his family or the council just that.

“My family is my top priority and a change is needed. I feel that in order for me to be there for my family I will need to resign as city councilor at large effective immediately. The decision was hard for me but I feel it is the right one,” Lynch said.

The next qualified person to fill in for Lynch is Laura Douglass but she is a nurse and with the pandemic still happening, she denied the position, according to Conniff. It is now up to the remaining members of the council to fill the vacancy. Each city councilor can nominate one person to fill the vacancy and if anyone in the public is interested, they can contact a councilor.

Conniff said at the Oct. 21 meeting, the nominations will be brought forward. A special city council meeting will be called on Oct. 28 to allow the potential councilors to speak and each remaining councilor can ask one question.

“If they receive a majority of the city council votes which would be five, that person is the next city councilor and will be sworn in at the Nov. 4 meeting,” Conniff said.

The selected councilor would serve until Dec. 31, 2021.

Conniff said Lynch was unsuccessful in his first campaign for city council in 2017. When then-councilor and current state Rep. Daniel Carey resigned at the end of 2018, Lynch was tapped to complete the term ending Dec. 31, 2019. The City Charter requires the vacancy be filled by the person who received a certain percentage of votes but did not win a seat in the prior election. Conniff said that person declined and the next eligible candidate was Lynch.

Lynch then successfully campaigned and won reelection to his current term from which he resigned.