ROCHESTER — No changes will be made to the Rochester Council on Aging employment procedures after Special Town Meeting voters on Monday, Jan. 22 soundly rejected a proposal to give the Select Board the ultimate word on hiring.

The article, the only one to prompt discussion at the hour-long meeting at Rochester Memorial School, sought to change wording adopted 17 years ago that gave the Council on Aging authority to appoint its employees.

Proponents of making the change argued that the new wording would bring the Council on Aging in compliance with town personnel bylaws that apply to all non-union and non-contract employees.

By having different wording, “there is confusion there,’’ said Select Board member Adam Murphy, who previously served as chair of the Personnel Board.

Ensuring that all Council on Aging employees fall under the town bylaws would not be a “power grab’’ by Select Board members, he said, but would keep things “fair and equitable’’ between Council on Aging employees and other town workers, he said.

But opponents of the change said personnel bylaws were already followed by the Council on Aging and questioned why the issue was being raised.

Rochester Council on Aging Board of Directors President Michael Cambra said the organization was “taken very much by surprise’’ by the proposed change. He said the organization did not receive any communication about the proposal before it was placed on the warrant.

Former Select Board member Woody Hartley said the issue was “nothing new’’ and that procedures were put in place 40 years ago to clarify hiring process. The hiring is done “in accordance with local procedures,’’ he said.

By changing the wording, the Select Board “will start to hire the director, hire [council] board members,’’ he said. “This keeps it from being political.’’

The change was turned down by a significant majority of voters in attendance.

Select Board Chair Paul Ciaburri had sought to indefinitely postpone any action on the issue, but voters disagreed and chose to put the issue to a vote. Cambra noted that the issue had brought out voters, who wanted to have their say.

All other articles passed with no discussion and strong majorities.

They included:

A request to allow Fire Chief Scott Weigel to continue his employment beyond his upcoming 65^th birthday.

The increase of the amount seniors can have cut from their tax bills through work for the town from $750 to $1,500.

The transfer of $400,000 from the Highway Improvement Stabilization Fund to make improvements to roads in town.

The approval of $21,270 for various town capital improvements.

The transfer of $54,380 that was previously approved by Town Meeting for a public safety feasibility study to work on design for the potential building.

The approval of the addition of a parcel of land at 621 County Road to the Cranberry Highway Smart Growth Overlay District.