Liz Breadon’s first meeting as Boston City Council president quickly descended into chaos, when the body’s refusal to accept her proposed rule changes led to an insult leveled by one councilor, which prompted another to demand a formal apology.

The drama began right off the bat Wednesday, when Breadon sought immediate passage of her proposed Council rules for the 2026-27 term, which began earlier this month when councilors were inaugurated and she was elected president in a surprising upset over Councilor Brian Worrell coordinated by allies of the mayor.

Adoption of the Council rules have been a standard procedure in past years, but Breadon’s proposed changes drew pushback from the divided body this time around. The rules were kicked to a subcommittee for a formal hearing after Councilor John FitzGerald objected to an immediate vote on the proposed changes.

“I have not had a chance to personally review the rules, having three children, snow day … (and) this being the first day of school of the week,” FitzGerald said, explaining that he wasn’t provided with a written copy of the rules until shortly before 5 p.m. on Tuesday. “I do not feel comfortable not knowing.”

FitzGerald said this is the first time the rules have been changed substantially in about four years.

“I do want to make sure we start off on the right foot — everyone understands what their roles are, what their committees are, and what the oversight of those committees do,” FitzGerald said. “I just don’t feel that this moment now is the time to discuss that, given we have a 15-page agenda.”

His formal objection to a vote on the rules ended discussion on the matter. The Council will operate under last term’s rules until the new ones are adopted.

The objection did not sit well with Councilor Sharon Durkan, who responded by making a motion to abruptly adjourn the meeting, about 20 minutes after it began and with a stacked agenda remaining.

“Since some of my colleagues decided to not show up for work ready for work, I would like to make a motion to adjourn the meeting,” Durkan said.

Breadon, in her first full meeting as president since her election at the Jan. 5 organizational meeting, seemed to forget the rules, and called for the meeting to be adjourned based on Durkan’s motion, which needed to be seconded and voted on — as the Council president was quickly reminded by City Clerk Alex Geourntas.

As no councilor seconded Durkan’s motion to adjourn, the meeting continued.

Councilor Ed Flynn then addressed the tension percolating between councilors.

“We have a long meeting coming up,” Flynn said. “I think it’s important that we conduct the meeting and treat each other … with respect. It’s going to be a controversial meeting, but residents are watching us, and I think it’s important for us to be courteous to each other and to be respectful to each other.”

Not much later, Councilor Erin Murphy rose to speak, and demanded an apology from Durkan. To that end, Murphy invoked Rule 38 while emphasizing that she was offended by Durkan’s remark about her lack of preparation for the meeting.

“I came to work prepared,” Murphy said. “This is my fifth year. I have never missed a Council meeting. … I come on time. I come early. I was up till 2 a.m. working on and preparing questions.”

Addressing Breadon, Murphy said “there have been many tries to talk about changes to my committee, and I appreciate that you did try and we had conflicts, but I think that a member saying that none of us came to work prepared deserves an apology, because that, to me, is an insult.”

Rule 38 of the Council rules states that, when called upon to speak, a councilor “shall not use unbecoming, profane, abusive, or non-parliamentary language, and shall avoid personal or derogatory remarks to or about any member.”

If an offense is committed, the councilor “shall make an apology in open session at the meeting at which the offense was committed or at the next succeeding regular meeting,” the rule states.

The Council president can hold a councilor in contempt if they fail to apologize, and bar them from meeting debate until they apologize, per Rule 38.

After calling a roughly half-hour recess, Breadon formally acknowledged Murphy’s invocation of Rule 38, saying that it was her “intention to address this issue,” and pursuant to the rule, would do so before the next meeting.

While Breadon’s office wouldn’t comment on whether she would require an apology from Durkan, Murphy said she was assured by the Council president that Durkan would be expected to apologize to the entire body at the next meeting.

“After a recess, President Breadon stated she would speak with Councilor Durkan and expected an apology before the next meeting,” Murphy told the Herald.

Durkan wouldn’t say whether she planned to apologize. She said her “comments were made in the context of explaining why I was calling for an adjournment.”

“I’m sorry if any of my colleagues took those remarks personally, as they were not directed at any individual,” Durkan said in a statement to the Herald. “For the past 20 years, the Council’s rules have been adopted without delay at the first meeting following the election of a president.

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“I don’t believe the Council did our job today,” Durkan added. “This delay impacted our work as no dockets were put in committee so I believe my frustration is warranted.”

Breadon also expressed disappointment with the “unnecessary delay” and said she plans to hold a working session on Friday for her Council rules proposal.

“Though it has been precedent to suspend and pass updates to Council rules for over two decades, some of my colleagues objected to this routine action,” Breadon said in a statement to the Herald. “While I remain committed to transparent collaboration with my colleagues, I am disappointed by this unnecessary delay.

“Our city and our country are facing unprecedented challenges which necessitate urgent action by the City Council,” Breadon added. “The Council must ensure that it does the people’s work more effectively and efficiently.”