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The fifth and final seat on the Hope Mills Board of Commissioners will remain in limbo for a little while longer.

Town Attorney John Jackson informed the board of the denial of Commissioner-elect Tina Odom's appeal concerning her residency.

Superior Court Judge E. Lynn Johnson ruled last week that the Cumberland County Board of Elections did not commit any errors of law when it upheld a challenge to Odom's residency.

Odom was elected to serve on the town board in the Nov. 3 general election. The town decided to delay swearing her in after the board of election's ruling in December until the legal matters were resolved.

Jackson said he was waiting for a formal order to be signed before recommending the town officially vacate Odom's seat.

Mayor Eddie Dees said that if the town officially declares the seat vacant the board could choose any town citizen to fill the seat, according to state statute. He asked for citizens interested in serving on the board to submit a letter of interest to him, which would be shared with the board.

Dees said other elected vacancies are being filled in a similar manner, including former Commissioner Breeden Blackwell on the county board and state Sen. Margaret Dickson's former House seat.

He said there have been four vacancies on the town board in recent years. Twice the board seat was filled by the person with the next highest number of votes in the election, including the last two vacancies.

Former Commissioner Doris Luther finished sixth behind Odom in the general election.

Commissioner Eddie Maynor said the town would need to be judicious in choosing someone to fill the seat should it become vacant.

He said the board would need to pick the best person for the town, regardless of personal issues or any other consideration.

Jackson said after the meeting that Odom would have approximately 30 days to appeal Johnson's ruling to the N.C. Court of Appeals once the order is filed.

Odom was unavailable for comment.

Hope Mills firefighter Wesley Leon Metcalf, police Officer Lee Sumners and emergency medical technician Lt. Deborah Collado were honored by VFW Post 10630. They were named the top firefighter, police officer and emergency medical technician for 2009-10, respectively.

Metcalf also was named the state firefighter Gold Medal winner, the 10th time in 12 years a Hope Mills firefighter received the top award from the state's Veterans of Foreign Wars.

The board unanimously approved $3,289 for the redesign of the town's Web site by SutaDesign of Shannon. Town Manager Randy Beeman said the new site should be up in about 60 days once the contract is signed.

The board unanimously approved the site plan, including a zero lot line, for property along North Main Street that includes Dogwood Plaza next to Sammio's Italian Restaurant, and a proposed sports bar.

The board unanimously approved amending the personnel policy to add a compensation plan that would reward town building inspectors for advancing levels of certification.

Commissioner Tonzie Collins asked Beeman to consider a compensation plan that would award other town employees for earning a college degree within their area of employment if the degree was not a requirement for their job.

Among the consent agenda items approved by the board was approval to purchase radio handsets, seven vehicle computer terminals and a new security system for the Police Department; the purchase of 627 roll-out garbage carts; and the acceptance of two new scoreboards from the Hope Mills Youth Association.