GREENFIELD — At-Large City Councilor Penny Ricketts announced her immediate resignation on Monday, stepping away after a decade serving on City Council.

Ricketts, who served on a variety of city boards and committees before being elected to the council in 2014, said she sent her letter of resignation to City Clerk Kathy Scott on Sunday before announcing her departure on her Facebook page on Monday. She is the city’s longest-serving councilor.

“After much reflection, I’ve decided to step down from my seat as a city councilor effective immediately,” Ricketts wrote in her letter. “It has been my honor to serve this community. I am deeply grateful for the trust and support you have shown me in this role, as well as the various committees and boards over the last 25 years or so.”

Scott noted in an interview Monday afternoon that Ricketts had not yet signed her letter of resignation, an action that she said is necessary for the resignation to be official.

Speaking Monday afternoon, Ricketts said she decided to resign because, after roughly 25 years of service to the city — on the Human Rights Commission and holding leadership positions at both Franklin County’s YMCA and Stone Soup Cafe — she feels it is time to pass the torch to a new councilor. Having been elected to her current term in November 2021, Ricketts has served nearly three years of her four-year term.

With her pending resignation timed two days before Wednesday evening’s City Council meeting, Ricketts said she feared that attending another meeting would tempt her to stay to work on upcoming proposals. She noted that just as she did not resign after she suffered a stroke six years ago, her resignation was not related to her health.

“I felt like I’d really done my time,” Ricketts said. “I’m just stepping back, letting other people join in and do their part. I feel like I’ve given a lot and I’m just going to take some time for myself.”

Alongside her work ethic, Ricketts took a sense of pride in being accessible to the public. She said she always took phone calls from concerned constituents and will continue to offer a helping hand to the community even after her departure from the council.

“My only regret is not having a large discount department store,” Ricketts wrote in her letter. “Thank you for the opportunities to serve and for your understanding of my decision to step back.”

Pending the signing of Ricketts’ resignation letter, Precinct 6 City Councilor Sheila Gilmour, who was elected in 2017, will soon be the city’s longest-serving councilor. Gilmour said although she and Ricketts did not always agree, the two were united under a shared goal to serve constituents in any capacity possible.

Gilmour added that she was “surprised” by Ricketts’ resignation, and hoped it was not related to an emergency.

“We definitely had our little quibbles here and there, but when we would get on the same page, it was always about serving the folks in the community and trying to speak with everybody who would talk to us,” Gilmour said. “She was just kind of one of those people that seemed like she would be around forever. She had run for reelection so many times, even after she had a really serious health concern years ago. She didn’t resign after that, which surprised a lot of folks.”

If the letter is signed and made official in the coming days, City Council President John Bottomley explained that the city would put out a call for Ricketts’ replacement next week. After reviewing candidates’ letters of interest and resumes, the final candidates would then come before Committee Chairs on Oct. 1, with the recommended candidate moving on to City Council. The full council may vote to appoint Ricketts’ replacement on Oct. 16.

“I am saddened that Councilor Ricketts is stepping down from the council,” Bottomley wrote in a statement. “She always spoke her truth passionately and clearly, a truth that benefited Greenfield over her many years of service. Her wisdom and experience will be missed on the council.”

Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.