Boston city councilors named Rosaria Salerno city clerk yesterday, pre-empting the former mayoral candidate from challenging them in next fall's at-large council race.

Salerno won the $80,000 a year post on a 9-4 vote that came after days of deal-making that tied her appointment to the rescheduling of council sessions to accommodate Councilor John Nucci.

Salerno supporters agreed to move council meetings from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. if Nucci backers agreed to give Salerno the job now held by Patrick McDonough, who retires early next month.