WINDHAM – With key concessions made by Councilor Tommy Gleason, the Windham Town Council elected new leadership in a marathon session Tuesday night.

The new leadership team, which will serve until November’s election, will consist of Chairman Scott Hayman and Vice Chairman Matthew Noel. Hayman will continue in a familiar role, having served the past year as chairman, and Noel will once again serve as vice chairman, a position he held two years ago.

By town charter, the council votes the meeting after the November election for new leadership. But councilors were split in November, when Kevin Call nominated Noel as chairman and sparked a tense discussion that revealed a political division on the council.

The matter was almost tabled again Tuesday night. But saying he “wanted to get it over with,” Gleason helped the council achieve the necessary four votes by joining the bloc of Noel, Hayman and Call in voting for the new leaders.

When contacted Wednesday, Gleason said he had the town’s reputation in mind in switching allegiances.

“I don’t want it to be a personality thing,” Gleason said. “I did it because I don’t want the council to look bad. I did it for the town, not myself. It’ll move the town forward and not stay in a simple, stupid fight taking nominations for the next three months. It was the thing to do. But, I will add, compromise is a very hard thing to do.”

In past leadership votes, some have criticized councilors for appearing to have already lined up votes prior to the meeting. However, Tuesday’s vote was anything but tidy.

Four councilors – Call, Hayman, Noel and Gleason – were nominated for chairman, and three – Gleason, Noel and Call – were nominated for vice chairman. Hayman, who was nominated by Noel and seconded by Gleason, was eventually elected chairman, 6-0.

Noel, who was nominated by Gleason for vice chairman, with Call providing a second, was approved 4-2 (Dennis Welch, David Nadeau opposed).

The remaining leadership positions passed with unanimous votes. The council appointed Nadeau as parliamentarian, citing his knowledge of Robert’s Rules of Order, the town charter and years of service on the Planning Board.

The finance committee, which reviews the town manager’s budget prior to full council review, will consist of Call, Noel and Gleason.

The appointments committee, which Hayman and Noel said has its work cut out for it, due to many committee vacancies, will be composed of Welch, Call and Gleason.

With the council potentially filling the vacant council seat Jan. 24, the need for compromise may be short-lived. With the evident 3-3 split, a potential tie-breaking seventh councilor would cause a shift in power.

Gleason wouldn’t comment on how he would vote Jan. 24 when the council considers the three applicants (Peter Anania, Carol Waig and Kaile Warren) for the position made vacant with the death of former Councilor Peter Busque. But the applicants and their governing philosophies are well known since all have served on the council previously. As a result, council watchers agree the two sides may have difficulty coming together again on important votes.

“It should be interesting and we’ll see what happens,” Gleason said.