Although it was expected to do so this month, Washington’s City Council likely will determine the procedure to fill a vacancy among its members in August.

However, the council could let the vacancy, created when Bobby Roberson resigned his seat on the five-member council in June, remain until the new council takes office in December after the general election in November. Upon his resignation, the council appointed Roberson interim city manager. Roberson, who had been serving as the city’s mayor pro tempore, was hired as a temporary replacement for Brian Alligood, who left the city manager’s post to take the Beaufort County manager’s job in June.

Roberson, in a brief interview Tuesday, said he expects the council to use the same procedure it used 10 years ago to fill a vacancy among its membership.

In 2005 when Mickey Gahagan, a council member, was named mayor after Stewart Rumley resigned from that post, the council faced finding a replacement to take Gahagan’s seat on the council. Rumley was appointed interim city manager to fill the vacancy created when then-City Manager Steve Harrell resigned.

The council interviewed five people who sought to replace Gahagan on the council. Those people were Charles H. Manning III, Richard L. Brooks, Neill Archibald “Archie” Jennings III, Doris “Dot” Moate and Douglas Mercer. Brooks, who had been on the council before, was named to replace Gahagan.

The council may choose anyone it wants to replace Roberson on the council, as long as that person lives within the city limits and meets other qualifications to hold public office. The council does not have to choose someone who ran in the last municipal election.

Seven people are seeking the five available seats on the Washington City Council this election cycle. Incumbents Doug Mercer, William Pitt, Richard Brooks and Larry Beeman are seeking re-election. Virginia Finnerty, Ty Carter and former council member Gil Davis round out the seven-candidate field.

Roberson’s replacement for the current two-year council term that expires in December could come from those candidates not currently on the council.

Roberson imposed a six-month limit on his tenure as interim city manager because he is in the state’s retirement system and is restricted to the amount of income he can earn.