City council members temporarily postponed a recommendation by Mayor Tim Matthes to appoint a city clerk Tuesday night, highlighting a few sticking points between the council and the new mayor.

Spirited discussion began when Matthes asked the council to confirm the appointment of Brandy Rinearson, the interim city clerk. Rinearson took the interim post after former city clerk Patti Kirkpatrick separated with the city on Feb. 27.

“She (Rinearson) has been an inspiration to me and so much help,” he said.

“This is a no-brainer to me as far as I’m concerned.”

The council did not see it that way. After Council member Fred Chang moved to approve Rinearson’s appointment, council member Jerry Childs asked that decision be postponed until after the council had a chance to discuss the decision at Tuesday’s work study session.

Childs said the mayor had brought forth a plan to the finance committee that called for reorganization of the clerk’s office. Rinearson’s appointment so soon after a plan to reorganize befuddled him, Childs said.

He was also concerned about the lack of information he had received from the mayor about the appointment.

“Personally I haven’t seen anything about a job description or resume,” he said. “It just seems like the process is a little skewed.”

Matthes disagreed. He said he did bring forth a plan of reorganization, but that plan has been shelved in order to move forward in a timely manner.

“You’ll have to forget all that other stuff that I brought to the finance committee,” he said. “This position needs to be filled and we need to move forward.”

Other council members agreed with Childs. Carolyn Powers said though previous mayors had appointed city clerk positions with little notice to the council, she would like to see more collaboration moving forward.

“I respect your right to appoint people,” she said. “I think in the collaboration with the council it might behove us to delay this.”

Matthes remained firm.

“What would be the purpose of postponing other than we don’t move forward?” he asked.

The council voted 5-1 with Chang voting nay and John Clauson absent to postpone consideration until after Tuesday’s work study session. Until then, Rinearson will remain as the interim city clerk.