Tempers flared at Town Hall Friday afternoon after the deputy supervisor confronted the head of the Southampton Patrolman Benevolent Association following a discussion of Supervisor Linda Kabot’s proposed $78.8 million budget.

Apparently angered over comments made during the special meeting by Southampton PBA President Patrick Aubé, who criticized the proposed spending plan that includes 48 layoffs, Deputy Supervisor Bill Jones stopped Mr. Aubé in the hallway and, at one point, shoved him in front of several witnesses.

As tempers continued to flare, Mr. Aubé said that he was physically pushed by Mr. Jones. PBA Vice President Kevin Gwinn came to Mr. Aubé’s aid and tried to separate the two men.

“I’ll lock him up,” Mr. Aubé said to Mr. Gwinn, before stating to Mr. Jones, “You are going to jail.”

While trying to calm him, Mr. Gwinn warned Mr. Jones that he was being “physically aggressive.”

Apparently unfazed by the warning, Mr. Jones shouted “get your hand off me!” and proceeded to blast both men for opposing the supervisor’s budget.

“I am infuriated at the BS that we had to listen to,” Mr. Jones said. “You don’t know what you’re talking about! I know this budget inside and out.”

After hearing the shouting, Ms. Kabot exited the Town Board workroom and rushed into the fray, and asked Mr. Jones to stop. “This is the end of the conversation,” Ms. Kabot said.

Speaking at the special meeting, Mr. Aubé stated that he opposed the layoffs and proposals that veteran police officers forgo longevity pay. Mr. Aubé said the 48 layoffs proposed in the budget would cause the “destruction of families” and that town officials should instead offer employees reduced work schedules with adjustments in pay.

“I urge the Town Board to oppose your proposed budget,” Mr. Aubé said.

But once he left the room, Mr. Aubé was confronted in the hallway by Mr. Jones, who is also the town’s director of human services—a department that faces four layoffs—and the shouting began.

Later, Ms. Kabot said she was “embarrassed” by the spat. She said she needed time to consider whether any disciplinary action was warranted against Mr. Jones.

When reached later, Mr. Aubé said he was not pressing any charges against Mr. Jones.

Ms. Kabot noted that town officials have worked long hours and “burned the midnight oil” this week to compile the budget by the September 30 midnight deadline, as required by state law.

“Tempers are very, very high. A lot of emotions are raw right now,” Ms. Kabot said. “For [the budget] to be described as ‘smoke and mirrors’ when we knew this is open, honest and transparent is upsetting.”