Monday’s city council meeting in Mineola marked a changing of the guard. The mayor’s gavel was passed to Jayne Lankford as Kevin White stepped aside after four years.

New council members Jack Newman and Terry Eaton were sworn in and went to work naming a replacement for Lankford’s seat.

In a split vote, Eric Carrington received the nod 3-2 over former council member Greg Hollen.

Hollen initially filed for reelection but stepped aside when Newman sought to regain the seat he left so his wife, Doris, could be hired as the Main Street manager.

Sue Jones, who lost to Lankford in the mayor’s election, nominated Hollen. Newman nominated Carrington, who will be sworn in at the next meeting.

Jones was then reelected as mayor pro tem, also on a 3-2 vote over Cassandra Sampson.

White, Hollen and outgoing council member Polly Jones were acknowledged for their service to the city.

The council had only a couple items to consider, but did meet behind closed doors for more than an hour with the city attorney to consider possible litigation, the sale of property and economic development negotiations.

Following the session the council voted to sell the downtown lot at 101 E. Commerce St. to Logan and Morgan Belcher, as recommended by the Mineola Economic Development Corp. It is the former site of the 1888 building that was razed in 2018.

The council also approved a recommendation from the Planning and Zoning Commission to have zero setbacks in the historic overlay district.

The setbacks were apparently an oversight when the zoning ordinance was updated in 2006. Buildings in the district generally abut the sidewalk and each other, making setbacks problematic.

City Manager Mercy Rushing the council would hold its first budget workshop on the date of the next council meeting June 28.