Ian Tiley has rejected a report calling for a popularly elected mayor.
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The Armdiale Regional Council administrator said a mayor elected by popular vote could create a dysfunctional Council.
“I’ve seen popularly elected mayors thumb their nose at the community and do their own thing for four years,” he said.
“It is my view from experience that the community should elect the team, and the team should elect one of their number that they are confident they can work with, in the best interest of the people.”
The Armidale Ratepayers Association requested the report that lists excluding internal politics, increased independence, and giving mayors a clear mandate as positives for the change.
The report also said popularly elected mayors were often seen as community leaders.
Internal dysfunction, longer mayoral terms, and increased administration costs were among the cases against a popular election.
The request came after the Uralla Shire Council held a referendum on the same issue in 2012.
They voted for a popular election, and in September, Michael Pearce was elected Uralla's mayor for the next four years.
Dr Tiley also quashed a recommendation for Council to run the next election.
“The Council staff are really under the pump with implementation issues and the NSW State Electoral Commission do a really good job,” he said,
“It’s [the electoral commission] removed from Council, it’s totally independent, and that's why I made this decision.”