More controversy hit Mount Vernon City Hall after a ceremony to welcome new firefighter recruits ignited a verbal firestorm between Mayor Richard Thomas and other elected officials.

Hundreds packed City Hall Friday as Thomas swore in the city's new fire chief, Thomas Duffy, a new lieutenant and new recruits.

The exchange of words began in response to the City Council's decision to hire seven recruits instead of the 11 new firefighters that Thomas had demanded.

The relationship between the mayor, City Council and the comptroller is known to be combustible. It was exacerbated on Thursday, when the council went after six of the mayor's appointees, including the public safety commissioner, citing them as nonresidents, which violates the city charter's residency requirement. The comptroller says she is looking at the possibility of stopping the paychecks of the appointees.

Mayor Thomas tells News 12 that for decades, nonresident appointees have been employed by the city, and it's never been an issue with the City Council before.