"I'm all in favor of peace," he said. "I just feel there are certain issues that have a political overtone to it that I just want to see the council step away from."

Mayor Jerry Fried, who was in favor of the proclamation, said its purpose is to honor the people who compose Montclair Peace Vigil. He likened the proclamation to those the council regularly gives to local churches, some of which, Fried noted, may not advocate positions he agrees with.

"It's a generic, positive message about community activists," he said, adding that the proclamation's message is "we should be working on peaceful solutions to issues."

In the end, the proclamation was signed only by Fried and council members Renee Baskerville, Nick Lewis, and Kathryn Weller. Murnick declined to sign the proclamation, as did council members Cary Africk and Roger Terry.

In a conference session before the council meeting, Africk said the council's involvement in issues of war and peace is not appropriate. He added that the council might not honor groups with stances on the opposite side of the political spectrum, like anti-abortion protestors.

Reached by phone Wednesday morning after the meeting, Murnick said he thinks he and the rest of the council should focus on Montclair, not issues of war and peace.

"I took this position to help govern the township and not take political sides, and I think that this possibly has a political side," he said.