NAHANT — The Planning Board and Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to extend the application deadline for two new alternate Planning Board positions through Thursday, Sept. 5.

The Planning Board originally announced it was seeking the two additional alternates in July, and now seeks to gain further interest by giving residents additional time to submit letters of interest. Earlier this year, alternate Planning Board member James Dolan stepped down from his position, while the other alternate member, Rebecca Flacke, became a regular member. Chair Sheila Hambleton expressed excitement about the level of interest the positions have garnered thus far.

“A lot of our vacancies have had more than enough people to choose from,” Hambleton said.

While alternate Planning Board members are not voting members, they are allowed to attend and take an active role in all discussions.

The selectmen offered their full support for the Planning Board’s effort to extend the application period.

“If they wish to extend the deadline, I certainly support that,” Board of Selectmen Chair Josh Antrim said.

The two boards will hold an additional joint meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 18, in which two applicants will be appointed as the new alternates. Letters of interest must be emailed to both Hambleton and Administrative Assistant Kristin Taylor at [email protected] and [email protected], respectively.

Applicants must be Nahant residents to qualify. Selectman Gene Canty noted how one interested party had an address in a different municipality that had not been updated.