Two members of the Salem City Council have abandoned plans to do business with the city, saying they will pull their potentially divisive proposal when the council meets next week.

Bill Jones and Lisa Garst, both council newcomers and business owners, announced Friday that they want residents to be better informed before they move on a measure that would let them bid on city contracts.

The council was scheduled to vote on the resolutions at its meeting Monday night after months of maneuvering to get the issue on the agenda.

"I've done everything right as far as following procedures since I was elected, and the last thing I want to do is divide the people of Salem," Jones said in a news release from the city.

Although he had received more support on the matter, he added, "until the citizens have all of their questions answered, I think it's in the best interest to withdraw the request at this time."

Both Jones and Garst had long-standing business dealings with the city before the May elections, but suspended their transactions after they were elected.

Jones, who owns Fast Signs with his wife, said that sales to Salem were about $48,000 during each of the past two years. Garst, who owns Sterling Engineering Solutions with her husband, said that sales of the company's utility communications products to the city totaled about $8,000 for the past two years.

Virginia's Conflict of Interest Act says city officials cannot have a personal interest in contracts with the government that they serve.

But under a strict set of guidelines, the law allows them to make sealed bids on contracts for goods. Contracts for services are off limits.

Jones and Garst had followed a tricky legal course, which required careful reading of state code and getting approval from a commonwealth's attorney, before the measure landed on the upcoming council agenda.

But despite its legality, the issue raised concerns about the appearance of special treatment, and had left many residents wondering which way Monday's vote would go.

Sonny Tarpley, who served on the city council for more than 30 years, saw a perception problem in blending the roles of business owner and city official.

"Traditionally, that has just not been done in Salem," Tarpley said Friday, recalling past council members who had shunned city business. "There would always be a question in someone's mind."

In calling off the vote, Garst said she wanted to be transparent with residents, though they had largely backed the measure. "Most of the people who have approached me in the community have been very supportive," she said, according to the release.

Mayor Randy Foley said Friday that the issue could come up before the city council again, but that he doubted it would happen soon.

"We'll move on," he said. "We'll just have a shorter agenda Monday night."