The decision about whether and how to fill the open seat on the Penn State board of trustees rests with Chairwoman Karen Peetz, according to the university bylaws.

The bylaws state that any vacancies on the board may be filled by the leader of the board, except gubernatorial or ex-officio appointees, Penn State spokesman David La Torre said.

Steve Garban stepped down as trustee Thursday. Garban, a local resident, held an alumni-elected position that was set to expire in 2013.

In a letter to Peetz posted on the trustees’ website, Garban said his presence on the board had “become a distraction and an impediment to your efforts to move forward and continue the (b)oard’s most important work. ...”

Garban, who was chairman of the trustees when the Jerry Sandusky scandal broke, had been a target of criticism for how he handled it.

Alumni choose nine members of the 32-seat board. This year, the race to fill three seats drew an unprecedented 86 candidates.