NORTH ATTLEBORO - Selectman Christopher Sweet has followed through with his campaign promise to resign his seat on the planning board.

While there is nothing in the town's bylaws to prevent Sweet from serving as both a selectman and a planning board member, the two boards meet on the same night. In his resignation letter, Sweet said the time conflict would prevent him from being an effective member of the board.

He offered to assist the planning board with advice or counsel if needed and said he enjoyed his time on the board.

Sweet had two years left on his planning board term.

Town bylaws outline the process for filling the seat. The planning board needs to officially notify the board of selectmen about the vacancy. After receiving that notification, selectmen will advertise for applicants. A new planning board member will be appointed in a joint vote by selectmen and the remaining planning board members.

The appointed individual will serve in the seat until the April 2010 town election. At that time, the appointee will have to run in the town election if he or she wants to finish out the remaining year of the term.

Town Administrator Mark Fisher said that selectmen have interviewed applicants for vacant elected posts publicly in the past, though that is not a requirement.

Selectmen and the school committee are using the same process to fill a one-year vacancy on the school committee created by the recent resignation of Kenneth Pickering.