Yesterday, Mr Burns reiterated previous comments that “it was always my intention to serve my contract to its conclusion and it doesn’t make any sense to terminate it”.

He thanked staff and the public for their “significant support” after clearing his desk, ending his 13-year career at Armidale.

Councillors are now scrambling to search for an interim replacement after acting general manager Keith Lockyer said he would be taking annual leave. The action has caused one councillor to call on Local Government Minister Don Page to sack Council.

A spokesman for Mr Page said he was monitoring the situation at Armidale Dumaresq Council. He also indicated Mr Burns was entitled to receive a termination payment equivalent to 38 weeks’ remuneration, about $119,000.

Mr Burns’s contract was due to expire in September.

But the process for an early termination began last month, when Mr Bishop and deputy mayor Jenny Bailey proposed a resolution to negotiate an early end to Mr Burns’ contract.

The sacking was dubbed “dunnygate” after Mr Bishop told Fairfax Media Mr Burns had failed to show him the executive toilet when he became mayor in September.

“It became very obvious early in the piece that a change agenda was not welcome,” Cr Bishop said after January’s meeting.

“The mayoral car was not cleaned and had two illegal tyres, I still don't have a business card with mayor written on it and it took weeks for them to show me where the toilets and the tea-making facilities were.”

Yesterday, Cr Beyersdorf called on the Division of Local Government to “urgently consider the suspension of the Armidale Dumaresq Council”.

“In my view this Council has become dysfunctional,” he said.

Mr Bishop wished Mr Burns and his family all the best for the future on behalf of Armidale-Dumaresq Council.

A sub-committee of councillors, including Mr Bishop, Mrs Bailey and Colin Gadd, will meet to find a new interim general manager.

Mr Burns started as general manager in 2001 after the previous incumbent, Bill Perry, was sacked.

Then, Council reportedly forked out $200,000 to Mr Perry upon termination of his contract.