The Murfreesboro City Council will remain a six-member body. At their Thursday meeting, members voted down a measure to appoint someone to fill the vacant seat of the late Vice Mayor Doug Young.

Ending in a three-three tie vote on appointment of a replacement until the next election, the measure failed. Councilman Bill Shacklett says that proves the need for a seventh member...

Shacklett, Kurt Wade and Madelyn Scales-Harris were in favor of appointment. Specifically, Shacklett was in favor of appointing Susan Young, the late vice-mayor's wife. Mayor Shane McFarland says the council's decision not to appoint was not a referendum on her ability to serve...

Rick LaLance and Eddie Smotherman were in favor of having a special election. LaLance expressed a dislike for the process of appointment...

This put the mayor in a swing vote situation. It's one McFarland says took some research, especially the idea of appointment, much like what the school board has done at least twice in recent years...

Additionally, McFarland says his research determined the average attendance at city council meetings in the two previous years was six, with an average of one council member missing due to sickness, vacation or other issues that kept them from a meeting.

By voting down a decision to appoint, the council did not have to take up the other two options -- as leaving vacant would be the end result.

The options, after a change in the city's charter, were to appoint a member to fill the remaining term, to have a special election or to leave the seat vacant.