Sawka filed a complaint in municipal court on Thursday seeking assault and terroristic-threats charges against Bianchini. The township police department has not said whether it will pursue the charges.

“I should not have said that,” Bianchini said in an interview Thursday. “That was wrong. It was in the heat of the moment. I’m not gonna get anybody.”

The confrontation took place as a recently fired former township employee was speaking to the council. Meeting video shows Sawka waving toward people seated behind him and making an obscene gesture toward the mayor. Bianchini then stood and moved toward Sawka, who remained seated, according to his account.

Bianchini and members of his family said Sawka and another resident had made rude comments toward the mayor’s wife and daughter, who were in the room. Sawka denied making comments about the family, saying he waved his hand in response to remarks from behind him.

Bianchini said he reacted because he believed Sawka had targeted his family. He also said Sawka had harassed him and relatives online and in person since Bianchini was appointed mayor earlier this year to fill a vacancy left by his predecessor’s resignation.

Sawka disputed that account, saying he has criticized township spending and that the harassment goes both ways. He said he wants Bianchini to resign and leave politics.

Bianchini called his actions wrong but also defended them, saying, “Was it wrong? Absolutely. Was it justified? Absolutely.” He said he would not harm Sawka.

The dispute comes weeks before the mayoral election. Bianchini is running to keep the position; if he does not, he will serve out his predecessor’s term through the end of the year.