The Mandeville City Council did not appoint an interim mayor Monday evening, as many residents had feared.

Councilman Jerry Coogan had stated earlier in the day that he intended to make an appointment at the special meeting which he and two other council members called to replace former Mayor Eddie Price who resigned Friday. He told members of the media and the public as early as Monday morning that he had a man in mind for the interim position but did not elaborate as to who that might be.

Speculations suggested he intended to appoint Edward “Bubby” Lyons, a former Houma mayor who did a short stint on the Mandeville City Council in 2000 after being appointed to serve an interim term in that seat. However, after a plea by Mayor Pro Tem Trilby Lenfant to delay the appointment and open up the process to the public, Coogan gave no public indication that he had intended to make the appointment Monday evening and went along with Lenfant’s proposal.

“A closed system will only paint an unsavory picture of political maneuvering,” Lenfant said, adding that appointing someone with out input from the public and without accepting applications would “suggest there is a ruling elite, disinterested in the views of our people.”

Fearing the council would appoint someone with getting any input from the public, residents packed City Hall Monday evening, but after Lenfant’s proposed resolution, only few spoke.

Glen Runyon said he found it “unbelievable that this city council, and apparently some were not present at the time, got together some time between 4:30 on Friday and today (Monday) and came up with someone to appoint.”

Runyon said he found it disturbing that Coogan could come out just three days after Price stepped down, and state publicly that he was ready to appoint someone to replace him.

Runyon strongly encouraged the council set up some guidelines and restrictions for the interim mayor, who will serve for five months, to follow.

“Do you understand who every you appoint could appoint a new chief of police, which is currently an open position,” he told council members.

Runyon, who alluded that he might throw his hat in the ring, said the council needed to hire a city manager with specific duties and goals not just a caretaker. The council will accept applications for the position through 4 p.m. Thursday. Applications should be submitted to Council Clerk Lorraine Myhal at City Hall.

The resumes applications submitted will be forward to members of the council and the media and will be posted on the city’s Web site.

The council will reconvene at 1 p.m. on Saturday to review the applicants and will likely make a choice at that time.

The public will be invited to participate in this meeting.

“I firmly believe that we must implement a fair, open and transparent process for selecting an interim mayor,” Lenfant read from her prepared statement. “I believe that this open process will ensure that we hire an individual in accordance with the guidelines and principles that should govern our city.”

If the council fails to agree on an appointment, the resumes and applications will be forwarded to Governor Bobby Jindal and he will make the decision.

The person chosen will serve as mayor until a mayor is elected in the spring. The primary for the seat will be held on March 27, with a runoff election if necessary scheduled for May 1.

Whomever the council appoints will not be able to run for the position.