SOUTH KINGSTOWN – Mary S. “Polly” Eddy has retained the seat at the Town Council helm for a second term.

Eddy was selected to lead the council by a 4-to-1 vote at a meeting Monday night at Town Hall. Eddy, 76, a homemaker, was the top vote getter in the past two elections.

The incoming council picked Kathleen A. Fogarty 4 to 1 to continue as council vice president, again for a second term. Fogarty, 41, a pharmaceutical sales representative, ranked as the third highest vote getter behind retired police captain and political newcomer William J. Flatley, 54. Fogarty and Eddy will be serving their third terms.

Former School Committee Chairwoman Ella Whaley, 51, a public school teacher, came in fourth place followed by four-term Councilman James W. O’Neill, 63, a Realtor.

O’Neill cast the dissenting votes and nominated Whaley as council president and Flatley as vice president. O’Neill was often at odds with Eddy, Fogarty and former Councilman Paul Tasich in the previous term. Tasich was not reelected.

O’Neill explained that he didn’t support Eddy and Fogarty because of comments he claims they made two years ago saying they didn’t need to reach a consensus since the Democrats held the majority on the council. O’Neill, a Democrat who runs as an independent often allied with independent Councilwoman Cynthia Gleason, who did not seek reelection. Eddy, Fogarty and Tasich were Democrats.

“They set the table,” O’Neill said yesterday, “Their views have always been totally oriented toward schools.”

Eddy stood behind the council’s actions yesterday.

“I think it’s no great news that we don’t agree,” Eddy said. “It’s not that we disagree; it’s how he handles it.”

She makes no apologies for taking a pro-education stance.

O’Neill said he nominated Whaley “to put her in the hot seat.” The town was burdened with excessive education budgets under her School Committee reign, he said.

“Under her guidance, there was total disconnect with the real world,” he said.

Whaley could not be reached for comment yesterday.

As to his nomination of Flatley, O’Neill said he wanted new leadership that looked at broader issues facing the town and state, such as out-of-control pension costs.

Eddy, who oversaw at times unruly meetings at which the two camps battled it out, identified “keeping the budget in perspective” as the leading goal for the coming term. She speculated that the town would face budget cuts as it comes to terms with new state laws reducing the cap on property tax increases.

“I think we’re just going to keep the town running as well as it’s been running,” she said.

In addition to the new Town Council, Town Clerk Dale Holberton swore in incoming School Committee members Maureen Cotter, Natalie Herbermann and Kevin Jackson on Monday. Herbermann, 39, a teacher at the Rhode Island Training School, and Jackson, 41, a sales manager, will be serving their first terms. Cotter, 55, an educational consultant, has been seated on the school board since 1998, rising to vice chairwoman.

The School Committee will select its leadership Nov. 28.