The Windham School Committee and the Gray Town Council are both dealing with vacancies following recent resignations.

On June 14, Gray Town Councilor Deborah Mancini, who recently finished a year as chairwoman, submitted her letter of resignation. A week later, Windham School Committee member Jeff Vermette, an 11-year veteran of the school board, stepped down effective June 28.

Both cited personal reasons for their resignations. Neither Mancini nor Vermette returned calls requesting comment.

“Due to time constraints and circumstances both personal and private that are beyond my control, it is with profound regret that I must submit my resignation from Gray Town Council effective immediately,” Mancini wrote in her resignation letter.

Both slots will be filled within the next couple of weeks. The Gray Town Council will interview applicants before appointing someone to serve until the next municipal election.

Applications are due July 1 by 4 p.m., and no applications had been received as of Thursday morning. For their part, the Windham School Committee has decided to appoint Marge Govoni, a candidate for the Committee in the last election.

Gray Councilor Tracy Scheckel said Mancini’s resignation was unexpected.

“I was just surprised,” said Scheckel. “I was sorry to hear it.”

The town of Gray is now accepting applications from residents who wish to fill Mancini’s seat until the next municipal election in June 2009. Applications must be submitted by Tuesday, July 1, at 4 p.m. Mandatory interviews of applicants by the Town Council will be held Monday, July 7, at 4 p.m. The new member will be chosen by the Town Council and announced at a special meeting Thursday, July 10, at 5:30 p.m.

Mancini’s term runs until 2010. At the June 2009 elections, residents will elect a councilor to serve the remaining year of the term.

Scheckel, who was appointed by the Town Council to fill a seat after Alison Libbey’s resignation in 2007 then elected to finish the term June 10, said the opening will allow the appointee to test out town government.

“It’s a chance for somebody to essentially wet their feet,” she said. “It’s a good opportunity to try at being on the Council without committing to a three-year term.”

The Windham School Committee plans to appoint Govoni to fill Vermette’s seat until the next municipal election, scheduled for June 2009.

Govoni finished fourth in the June 10 elections in the five person race for School Committee. The top three finishers in the election won seats on the committee. It was Govoni’s fourth attempt at a School Committee seat.

“It was a long road,” Govoni said Wednesday. “It’s not exactly the way I had expected. I’m just very happy to have the opportunity.”

Govoni said she first wants to get a handle on how the School Committee operates, then will advocate for the issues she believes in, like all-day kindergarten.

“I know it’s been looked at before, and I want to look at it again,” she said.

Govoni also wants to visit each of the schools to get a feel for what’s going on at each facility.

“I don’t think there is enough of a school board presence at the schools,” she said.

Govoni already has firsthand knowledge of Windham Primary School, where she worked as a noon aide until she resigned recently due to her appointment to the School Committee.

“I’ll miss it,” she said. “But I figure I can still drop in and see the kids.”

Deb Mancini resigned from her seat on the Gray Town Council June , Marge Govoni will replace Jeff Vermette on the Windham School Committee. She was appoiinted after finished fourth in the June 10 elections, her fourth run for a seat on the committee.