BERWICK, La. — Councilman Greg Roussel was sworn in Tuesday prior to the town council meeting.

Roussel was elected without opposition to permanently fill the seat of Penny T. Crappell. The seat was held until the election by Jacki Ackel.

Roussel thanked Ackel for stepping up during the town’s time of need.

“Even though her shoes are probably a little smaller than mine, they’re still big shoes to fill,” he said.

Ackel was presented the Beacon Shines On award for her continued dedication to the town. She instituted the award during her short time on the council.

During the regular meeting, councilmen adopted a resolution in which the mayor automatically nominates each Berwick Development District member and the council automatically approves each appointment, retroactively and prospectively.

Town attorney Allen McElroy said the measure was necessary because the ordinance that created the board envisioned them meeting monthly. When they are not developing another phase of Renwick, the board rarely meets. State law calls for any board member not attending 50 percent of the meetings to be dismissed.

The cause for the resolution is “because the board of commissioners of the BDD, due to lack of activity requiring a meeting, do not hold regular monthly meetings and thereby inadvertently create vacancies due to the 50 percent rule,” the resolution states.

The district, which oversees the development of Renwick Subdivision, will hold a meeting March 28 to determine how it will handle the sale of the 32 lots in Phase 5, which has reached substantial completion.

It was unanimously passed.

Also Tuesday, the board:

—Appointed Charles Roy Jr. to the Berwick Development District to replace Elton Navarro.

—Approved a zoning map amendment at 2166 and 2176 River Road.

—Held a public hearing on the zoning map amendment during which no comment was received.

—Heard from David Bourdier, a volunteer with the Cypress Sawmill Festival, who noted that in addition to the festival April 5, 6 and 7, there will be a free lumberjack show for school children April 5 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.