Town Treasurer Stephen Gilligan received what he called a “disappointing” surprise at the latest Board of Selectmen meeting, when the board chose to not confirm the appointment of a deputy for Gilligan’s office.

Gilligan was hoping to hire Paul Olsen—a town management analyst—to the position advertised at $56,965-$66,003 per year. Gilligan said the ideas was to move Olsen to the deputy treasurer position and rework operations so he wouldn’t need to hire a management analyst to replace him.

But the selectmen put the appointment of a deputy treasurer and collector of taxes on indefinite hold.

At the meeting, the Board said the move follows Article 51 of this year’s Town Meeting, which asks town officials to study whether town and Arlington Public Schools finances should be merged to cut costs.

“Town Meeting has given us a mandate,” said Clarissa Rowe, chair of the Board of Selectmen. “We need to show we’re serious about what they are asking us to do.”

Reached by phone on Monday, Gilligan would not comment on the impact the move would have on his office’s daily operations. “The Office of the Treasurer will continue to perform all its work and responsibility as required,” he said.

But after conforming to town procedures on how to hire a deputy, Gilligan said he was “surprised.”

“I’m very disappointed that the Board of Selectmen has chosen to indefinitely delay a routine appointment based on a misinterpretation of what Town Meeting voted to do regarding article 51,” Gilligan said.

The Board of Selectmen told Gilligan they were unsure of when the deputy treasurer appointment could be confirmed. Rowe said she wants the appointment to be a part of Arlington’s study of town finances.

“I know this seems like a slap in the face,” Rowe told Gilligan. “It’s not meant to be.”