CHAPEL HILL -- Two Town Council members who recently voted to extend health insurance to outgoing members said they were sorry Wednesday night.

"I wanted to offer an apology to anyone who was offended," member Ed Harrison said.

"I'd like to offer the same," member Laurin Easthom said.

She disagreed, however, with those who said the council was trying to pull a fast one by putting the issue on its June 9 consent agenda. The council doesn't usually discuss items on the consent portion of its agenda before voting on them.

The council rescinded its vote June 16.

On Wednesday, citizen Gregg Gerdau handed council members a petition with more than 600 names. It criticized the insurance vote, along with the council's 11 percent tax hike and proposed pilot program for publicly financed town elections.

Gerdau thanked the council for rescinding and quickly sat down. Minutes later, former council candidate and frequent critic Will Raymond rose to speak. He called the insurance vote "sneaky" and its placement on the consent agenda suspect.

"This might have been a mistake, but it was no accident," Raymond said. "You're off the rails. Something has gone wrong here."

Veteran council member Bill Thorpe took it in stride. He suggested Raymond and others were making political hay for personal gain.

"It looks like the political season has already opened up," he said.