A motion to appoint a newly elected Lehighton councilman who has yet to sit in on a meeting after he exchanged words last month with a fellow council member to a committee has been rejected.

Borough council, on a 5-0 vote Monday, denied the appointment of Councilman William Rodweller to the borough’s Parks & Recreation Board. Rodweller, along with Councilman Joe Flickinger, were absent.

Rodweller, who won a seat in the November election, could be heard arguing with Councilwoman Autumn Abelovsky before the start of the Jan. 6 reorganization meeting.

After the meeting, Abelovsky said words were exchanged after she presented Rodweller with a letter.

“So, basically, it was just me (everyday ordinary citizen Autumn) talking to everyday ordinary citizen William, before the meeting,” Abelovsky said in an email.

When asked for a copy of the letter following last month’s meeting, borough solicitor Jim Nanovic said that since the letter Abelovsky gave to Rodweller was not done during the public meeting, it was not public record.

Council at last month’s regular meeting tabled the appointment of Rodweller to the Parks and Recreation Board.