Robin Black will remain involved in city affairs after stepping down from her role as a city councilwoman in January.

Having submitted a dated letter of resignation in October, she will take over as the board president for the Langley Chamber of Commerce. She gave up the seat she later won in an unchallenged November election because her husband, Tim Callison, was elected mayor. There are no rules requiring the resignation, but she promised to do so to avoid any potential conflict of interest. Her final city council meeting will be Jan. 4, where she will officially swear in and then immediately resign.

“It’s been my pleasure,” Black said.

During the city’s final regular meeting of the year Monday, Black was praised by her fellow council members and Mayor Fred McCarthy.

“She brings a lot of good, hard questions,” McCarthy said as he presented her with a plaque and gift of appreciation from the city. The plaque is on a wood base that reads, “You kept us afloat,” and supports a handblown glass sea float made by Callahan’s Firehouse, a hot shop across the street from city hall.

Added Councilman Bruce Allen, who is friends with Black and Callison: “I’m going to miss you a lot.”

Black represented the city to a leadership development group based in Snohomish County. Through that network, she created a brochure about activities in Langley and the surrounding area that is used by the chamber of commerce, which she eventually joined as a board member before being voted its president. Councilwoman Rene Neff praised Black, who was first appointed in June 2014 to fill in for a former councilwoman who moved out of Langley in the first year of her term, for engaging in city business as soon as she took the seat.

“You just jumped right in and volunteered your time and your money to go over to the Snohomish group,” Neff said.