AUBURN - The city council made a change in its rules Thursday that will give each of the four city councilors a chance to run meetings in Mayor Tim Lattimore's absence.

By a 3-2 vote, councilors decided to rotate the gavel, instead of having the senior member of the council at the helm if he's away. Lattimore was joined by fellow Republican Councilor Bill Jacobs and Democrat David Dempsey in voting for the change.

But Democrat Councilor Robert Hunter said thanks but no thanks. He really doesn't want to fill in for Lattimore when the mayor is absent.

"If I wanted to run for mayor, I'd run for mayor," Hunter said. "I have no interest in taking the mayor's place."

Lattimore introduced the legislation Thursday night to amend the "Rules and Procedures for the City Council." Since 1993, the senior member has run meetings and has assumed the responsibilities of mayor in his or her absence.

"I think everyone should have an opportunity to sit in the chair when I'm not around," Lattimore said.

As a result of Thursday's vote, McNabb, the senior member on council, will no longer automatically run meetings when the mayor is unable to attend.

Before voting against the measure, McNabb said the American Legion, Knights of Columbus, Cayuga Community College and every other organization he knows has someone second in command.

The former rule has been in effect since former Mayor Guy Cosentino's administration, when council members developed rules and procedures in May 1993. Before that, there were no written rules for councilors.

Before making up his mind Thursday, Jacobs said he needed assurances on the impact of the rules on who would sign documents and checks in the mayor's absence.

Auburn Corporation Counsel Thomas Leone Jr. said he would only have documents signed when the city truly needs them. In that instance, it could be the council member who was first available, Leone said.