ROCKY HILL - The Town Council has decided to hold off on appointing a Town Manager, as discussion over a disputed Charter interpretation continues.

       Democratic Councilor William O’Sullivan recused himself from voting on the motion to appoint Acting Town Manager John Mehr to the permanent role, in order to create a 4-4 outcome and render the ongoing supermajority debate moot. A previous motion to reopen the discussion passed unanimously.

       After the meeting, Mayor Claudia Baio cited â€�"legitimate concerns on both sides”, while admitting that next steps are unclear.

       Republicans claim that a previous 5-4 vote-taken weeks ago-in favor of Mehr’s appointment was insufficient, based on their reading of Section 501’s language regarding the 6-vote requirement spelled out under Town Manager appointments and dismissals.

       On the night of the first vote, Councilor O’Sullivan referred to what is known as the last antecedent rule, in suggesting that the section is vague as to whether the language regarding the mandated 6-votes â€�"reaches back” to apply to Town Manager appointments-an interpretation echoed in an opinion later issued by Attorney John Bradley.

       But the call for a supermajority has come not only from Republican Councilors, but past Charter Revision Commission Chairs and members.

       Meanwhile, Mehr-who has filled both his default role as Finance Director and interim Town Manager throughout the search process-will continue to run the town as the Council lays out the next steps.

       During the meeting, Republicans suggested assembling another search committee, and possibly bringing in a consultant. They reiterated expressed concerns about the â€�"process”, while lauding Mehr’s record as Finance Director.

       â€�"I take very seriously that the biggest job we have as a Town Council is to hire a town manager,” said Councilor Frank Szeps.

       Both he and Minority Leader Henry Vasel expressed a desire to review more candidates-as opposed to two finalists as was reportedly done in executive session-but Democrats noted that 70 total applicants were vetted by the Council-appointed search committee.

       â€�"To make it sound like two people were just pulled out of the sky is unfair,” said Mayor Claudia Baio.

       Vasel cited being only able to ask one question-part of what Democratic Councilor Anthony La Rosa said was a standard process in which the finalists field 9 questions, with each Councilor asking one.

       â€�"My disappointment was with process,” Vasel said. â€�"One question, and one only, and then I had to decide if this man should be in charge of a $70 million budget.”

       During the discussion, Deputy Mayor Joe Kochanek reiterated his endorsement of Mehr, who he says was simply the most qualified candidate.

       â€�"We didn’t find a clink in the Charter,” Kochanek said. â€�"The man sitting there is the guy who can do the best job for this town.”