Image provided by city of Hancock City Councilor Stephanie Tubman has stepped down for personal reasons. Her at-large position will be filled by appointment from among applicants at a personnel meeting on March 4.

HANCOCK — The Hancock City Council held its regular February meeting Wednesday evening with a vacant position. Councilor Stephanie Tubman, whose term would have expired in November of this year, submitted a letter of resignation to Mayor Paul LaBine and Clerk Mary Babcock on Monday.

“Thank you to the council for the opportunity to serve our local community,” read the letter. “It has been a pleasure and I hope to return to serve in such a capacity again in the future.”

Tubman’s resignation was accepted, with regret, at Wednesday evening’s meeting.

“Stephanie Tubman has had a lot of personal issues come up and she will be unable to dedicate the time that she would like to to the council,” LaBine said during the meeting. “It’s a shame because she’s such an intelligent and energetic woman. I wish she could have served longer.”

Vacant city council seats are required by the state to be filled within 30 days. As a result, the city will by appointing someone at a previously scheduled personnel meeting, March 4 at 6 p.m.

“Personally, I would like to see someone appointed and ready to go for the next council meeting rather than waiting until (the regular March meeting),” said LaBine.

Because Tubman served in an at-large position, any legal adult residing in the city may apply for the position. There is no application form. Instead, applicants are encouraged to write a “Letter of Interest,” including how long they have lived in the city, why they are interested in serving, and any applicable experience that they may have. Applications will be accepted at Hancock City Hall at 399 Quincy Street until March 3, in order to give the council time to review the letters prior to the March 4 meeting.

Tubman had also been chosen through this application process when applications were taken to fill the at-large position vacated by previous mayor John Haeussler stepped down due to health reasons in June of last year.

“I strongly encourage all who are interested in our city and local government to apply to the vacancy,” Tubman said via email. “It is a great time to serve the city, and we have many opportunities on the horizon.”