FRANKLIN—Although Charles Wrenn will no longer represent Ward 2 on the Franklin City Council, he will continue to represent the city on the Southeastern Public Service Authority Board.

Wrenn said he was asked to stay on by SPSA’s director and board chairman. Although his current term as vice chairman wouldn’t expire until December 2009, he was asked to step up to chairman effective at the next organizational board meeting, slated for July 23.

“As far as I know I will continue to serve,” he said, although he added that the City Council’s discussion of the matter took place without the input of new council members, who will attend their first meeting July 14.

“One of them may be interested in serving on the SPSA board,” he said, “in which case, of course, I have no problem.”

The majority of the council had no objections to Wrenn’s continued service on the SPSA board during closed-door discussions Monday evening. Vice Mayor Raystine Johnson did not attend.

Ward 5 Councilwoman Mary Hilliard questioned whether SPSA board members must be elected officials. She also wanted the results of the closed session to be made public.

“There is nothing in our constitution that requires you to be an elected official to serve on the board,” said Wrenn. “But generally (in the past) it has been elected officials.”

Wrenn said one other board member who represents Virginia Beach is not an elected official, but his alternate is.

City Manager Bucky Taylor serves as Wrenn’s alternate.

Wrenn has served on the City Council for eight years and eight months and just about the same amount of time on the SPSA board.