ROCKLAND – Knox County commissioners voted unanimously Friday to halt payment of a $35,000 settlement to outgoing County Administrator Jane Desaulniers.

Desaulniers resigned last month, just shy of completing a six-month probation period. Commissioners agreed at the time to pay the administrator $35,000. The cost to the county was more than $50,000 because the deal struck with Desaulniers called for her to receive $35,000 after tax deductions.

Commissioner Anne Beebe-Center voted against the deal, but commissioners Lawrence Nash and Mason Johnson supported it.

The move was widely criticized as fiscally irresponsible. Several people at Friday’s meeting spoke in opposition to the deal.

Commissioners withdrew into executive session, then in public session voted to not make the payment to Desaulniers, which was scheduled for Friday. It was not clear whether the payment will not be made at all or simply delayed. Commissioners meet next in their regular monthly meeting at 9 a.m. Monday, March 13.

Commissioners told those asking about the payment that it was a settlement, not a severance package.