AUBURN – Runners-up in last week’s City Charter election are not guaranteed a spot, councilors agreed Monday.

Instead, members of the outgoing City Council will select three names and appoint them to the board. Councilors are scheduled to appoint their choices at their next meeting on Nov. 15.

“The election was the people’s chance to speak,” Councilor Joe DeFilipp said. “Now it’s the council’s job to speak. We have to use our intellect to pick people based on something other than votes.”

After Monday’s discussion, councilors went into an executive session to discuss the Charter Commission applications of Richard Trafton and Gerard Dennison.

Once councilors appoint their choices, City Clerk Mary Lou Magno has a week to notify all of the members. The first commission meeting must be scheduled within a month after the election. The commissioners will work over the next nine months, reviewing the City Charter and recommending changes.

Last week at the polls, voters selected six out of a field of 14. Elected commissioners are John J. Cleveland, David E. Adams, Harry W. Woodard, Chip Morrison, C. Ellen Peters and Edward H. Desgrosseilliers.

Commissioner Woodard suggested last week that councilors select their appointees from the election runners-up. That would give the edge to the next highest vote-getters, developer Lee Griswold, former planning director James P. McPhee and former Mayor Robert L. Thorpe.

City Councilor Bob Mennealy said that’s the way he wanted it done.

“That way, we can’t be accused of playing politics with whom we choose,” Mennealy said.

Councilors DeFillip, Marcel Bilodeau and Bethel Shields all disagreed.

“I think it’s more important that we get a cross-section of people,” Bilodeau said.

Mayor Normand Guay said the city clerk is accepting applications for the jobs, and urged anyone interested to apply. The application is available at www.auburnmaine.org/cityclerk/City_Clerk_Volunteer.htm on the city’s Web site.