OBSERVER Photo by M.J. Stafford Pomfret Town Supervisor Dan Pacos, center, leads a moment of silence for Dunkirk Town Supervisor John Walker at the July meeting of the North County Water District Board.

The North County Water District Board did something at this month’s meeting that no one wanted to do again.

For the second time in seven meetings so far this year, the board had to replace a chairman who passed away. Sheridan Town Supervisor John Walker died in June.

Walker took over the NCWD board chairmanship after Dunkirk Town Supervisor Richard Purol passed away in February.

The new board leader will be its former deputy chairman, Pomfret Town Supervisor Dan Pacos. He was the only nominee and had no opposition. Walker also ascended from the deputy chairmanship after Purol died.

Portland Town Supervisor Rich Lewis takes over as deputy chairman. Like Pacos, he was the only nominee and no one voted against him.

Thomas Wick, a member of Sheridan’s board, represented the town at the meeting. The Sheridan town supervisor position will remain open until the November election.

However, that causes a temporary problem with Sheridan’s representation on the NCWD board. According to its bylaws, the only town representatives that can vote are supervisors.

County Legislature and district Board Clerk Kathy Tampio said she will seek an immediate change in the bylaws from the legislature, the water district’s parent body. The change will allow a representative of a town supervisor to vote.

Prior to the vote on the new leadership, Pacos led a moment of silence in honor of Walker.