That is the question being asked by the Armidale Regional Ratepayers Association.

A group of councillors attempted to have the contract of CEO Susan Law terminated, for the second time, at an extraordinary meeting on Monday.

Instead, there was a temporary injunction placed against five councillors in the Land and Environment Court so they could not participate in the meeting.

On Tuesday, the matter was back in court, where a further injunction was granted.

The court has made no findings at this stage and the matter will return to court in June.

Former Armidale mayor Herman Beyesdorf is vice president of the local ratepayers' group and he said their executive was deeply concerned at the situation, which he said was untenable and escalating rapidly, with no end in sight.

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"The question is how much this is costing the ratepayers. Commentators have said that the termination will cost ratepayers' money, but the additional legal costs are bound to be substantial," he said.

"Equally, commentators have said that terminating the CEO will be disruptive, but it would seem that this continuing Mexican standoff will be much more disruptive."

Mr Beyersdorf said the ratepayers group supported the decision of Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall to call on the Minister for Local Government for an inquiry.

"(It) may lead to the suspension or sacking of the mayor and/or individual councillors, or indeed the whole council," he said.

Mr Beyersdorf was the last mayor of Armidale Dumaresq Council, before it was amalgamated with Guyra Shire Council in 2016. At that time the councillors were sacked and an administrator appointed.

The administrator was Ian Tiley, who is now one of Armidale's councillors.

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