CHAPEL HILL - The Chapel Hill Town Council reversed itself Monday night and shelved a plan to offer departing members health insurance at taxpayers' expense.

Facing an avalanche of angry citizen e-mail and a petition, Mayor Kevin Foy opened the meeting by announcing the council would take back last week's 8-1 vote.

"What we've heard from citizens is the council made a mistake," Foy said. "The best way to deal with a mistake is to rectify it and move on."

But at least one citizen wasn't ready to move on. Gregg Gerdau brought a petition he said 400 people had signed since Saturday.

It called for the council to rescind its vote offering insurance to any departing member after two full terms: four years for a mayor, eight years for a council member. The town would pay 75 percent of the premium, and the departing member would have to request the benefits within 30 days of leaving office.

Sitting council members may already participate in the town's group medical insurance program like full-time employees.

Gerdau wanted to talk, but the mayor cut him off three or four times, saying the council had to proceed to regular business.