Council members said Rob Emslinger of Avalon, a town of 5,400, was the most qualified candidate for the job, but they tabled a vote to hire him after many residents spoke out or groaned over hiring an out-of-town candidate over a qualified one from the borough.

"He was the most qualified candidate in our estimation," said council President Richard S. Houpt.

Houpt said he thought the objective of council was to "hire the best person we can get," not to confine employee searches to the borough.

Houpt said the borough recently landed a top-notch administrator in new Borough Manager Kenneth S. Weaver, a Johnson City, Tenn., native who has been the top administrator of four cities in three states and a county administrator in Virginia.

Houpt said a committee, including the fire chief, was involved in the hiring process.

Council said it would reconsider the hiring at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.