CHAPEL HILL — The Town Council voted 7-1 Wednesday without public discussion to appoint former council member Sally Greene to the remaining year of Penny Rich’s term.

Also, council member Laurin Easthom, who supported Greene’s candidacy, announced she will not seek re-election when her term ends this year.

Greene, who served on the Town Council from 2003 to 2011, will be sworn in Monday , and will serve until Rich’s term expires in December. Rich resigned from the Town Council when she was elected to the Orange County Board of Commissioners in November.

She previously focused on affordable housing, homelessness and environmental preservation. She also had a hand in a number of major residential and commercial developments, including UNC-Chapel Hill’s Carolina North project, and worked with multiple town committees and boards.

Greene currently works as a visiting lecturer in UNC’s Department of English and Comparative Literature and previously was the associate director of UNC’s Center for the Study of the American South.

“The community has had the confidence in Sally in the last two elections prior, and we also have seen recent community support,” Easthom said. “In my opinion, she is the most qualified and has the most experience. This is not a vote against any other applicants that applied.”

The council member casting the lone vote against Greene’s nomination was not identified. That member voted for planning board member Amy Ryan, who also had community support.

Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt said it was great to get to know all 11 applicants better.

The 2013 council election could be a good one, he said. In addition to Easthom, Kleinschmidt and council members Gene Pease and Ed Harrison will be up for re-election in November.

“The people in this community have some extra talent to choose from in selecting a new council member,” Kleinschmidt said.

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