FAIRFIELD — Town Council Chairman Robert Sezak will resign from his municipal post effective Dec. 31, as he was recently elected to become a Somerset County commissioner.

Sezak, who is also the owner of Re-Books in Waterville, announced his resignation last month, and the council also discussed his resignation at a Nov. 23 meeting.

Robert Sezak is resigning from the Fairfield Town Council after winning election as a Somerset County commissioner. Staff file photo by David Leaming

Legally, Sezak cannot sit on both the council and the commission, according to Town Clerk Christine Keller. To fill the spot Sezak is vacating, the town is accepting applications and resumes for a one-year appointment to the council. As of Tuesday, Keller said she had received one application and resume so far, but that another resident had expressed interest.

Sezak has been on the council since 2011. He was elected to the District 1 commissioner’s seat Nov. 8 for a four-year term. The seat was held by Philip N. Roy Jr., also of Fairfield, who did not file paperwork for re-election. District 1 includes the towns of Fairfield and Norridgewock.

Keller said the council will appoint Sezak’s replacement either at its Jan. 3 organizational meeting or at its Jan. 11 regular meeting.

Sezak said others encouraged him to run for the commissioner’s seat, but he also wanted to help address property tax issues. He said with less revenue sharing coming from the state government, and with an aging population without children in the schools, property taxes and the annual school budget could be affected.

Sezak also praised the work he and his fellow councilors accomplished, saying he thought the “council has been a really good team” and will “be a good team going forward.” His council term was scheduled to end in 2017.

Sezak also had to resign his position as chairman of the Somerset County Budget Committee.

“I’m on to help see what we do at the (state) government level now,” Sezak said.

Sezak said in his time on the council, the town hired a town manager, a town clerk and a chief of police; secured grants to expand trail systems; and saw economic growth in the area, citing the opening of the Dancing Elephant Restaurant and Lounge on Main Street, which is an expansion of a Westbrook-based restaurant.

Colin Ellis — 861-9253

cellis@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @colinoellis