Portland city councilors will be asked Wednesday to hold off on a key vote to select a developer for the Maine State Pier, because one of their members is recovering from back surgery.

At the upcoming council meeting, Mayor Nicholas Mavodones will make a motion to postpone the vote until Sept. 17, according to Gary Wood, the city's corporation council. The mayor is aware that Councilor Donna Carr had recent surgery and won't be able to attend the Sept. 5 session, Wood said.

The Olympia Cos. of Portland is competing with Ocean Properties Ltd. of Portsmouth, N.H., for city approval to build the major waterfront project.