FRANKLIN—The City Council on Monday lifted the “interim” from City Manager June Fleming’s title and gave her a salary.

In a unanimous vote after a closed session, the five council members present voted to pay Fleming $30,000 through the end of the fiscal year on June 30. Council members Rosa Lawrence and Mark Fetherolf were not at the meeting.

Fleming, a retired city manager in Palo Alto, Calif., had been serving without compensation except for a $400 monthly travel allowance. That allowance was doubled to $800 Monday night.

“That is a motion with gratitude,” Mayor Jim Councill said after the vote to compensate Fleming.

Fleming was appointed interim city manager last summer after Rowland “Bucky” Taylor left to become executive director of the Southeastern Public Service Authority. She had originally said she would serve through the end of the fiscal year.

Monday night’s action indicated that Fleming may be willing to stay longer.

“I haven’t made a decision,” she said when asked after the meeting how long she plans to serve. “I’m not here forever. I just think the council is more comfortable having a city manager rather than an ‘interim.’ It sounds so insecure and temporary.”

Fleming cited the complexity of budgetary issues facing the city and the need for continuity.