Four suspended councillors from Armidale Regional Council have condemned the shire's administrator, Viv May, for refusing to meet with, or consult them, in an extraordinary letter slamming the government for "an attack on democracy".
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The letter, which is signed by councillors Margaret O'Connor, Debra O'Brien, Dorothy Robinson and Jon Galletly claims the affairs of council are being conducted "behind closed doors".
They complain Mr May has not met with them in the three months since the week of his appointment. Decisions like the appointment of acting general manager John Rayner were made without their input, they said.
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Armidale's council was suspended by Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock in June after a breakdown of the relationship between councillors.
On Friday, Mr May was given a second three-month appointment to administrate the council, extra time he will use to write a report recommending reform for the beleaguered council. It will be his last appointment.
The four councillors complain the three-month extension - which they said was signed off without any public justification - was "an attack on democracy".
Mr May admitted he hadn't sat down with suspended councillors in months.
But he said the reason he needed the extension was simple: he needed more time to address a "myriad" of issues at a council that was "dysfunctional at all levels".
He said he didn't feel obligated to consult with suspended councillors before making administrative decisions, because they had been suspended.
"I just don't see what purpose is served by having further conversations with councillors. They've had their opportunity to talk to me. They're sending emails and ringing me with different items and I respect their right to do that. They should respect my right to get on with the job."
He pointed to a council minute issued after the July 22 meeting.
"Given my experience to date I believe the community needs nothing short of a fresh start and not only with its General Manager," he said in the minute.
Former Deputy Mayor and Greens Councillor Dorothy Robinson said Mr May had "not responded" to attempts to arrange meetings with them.
"In fact, his public and private messaging is that despite our being the democratically elected representatives of the people of the Armidale region he has literally 'no time' for us," she said.
Denying that "the problems in the council were caused by the remaining suspended councillors", Cr Robinson pointed to the outcome of a court case for vindication.
Judge Preston condemned the legal action as like "Alice in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland".
Cr Margaret O'Connor said the councillors don't deserve to be "treated like the enemy of good government".
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"In fact, we took a principled and successful position to defend the interests of council staff and our community. It seems there is an intention somewhere to punish us, but we have no idea why, or for what," she said.
Four of Armidale's 11 elected councillors have resigned since the council was suspended, including former mayor Simon Murray. In the letter, the five councillors said Armidale should return to government by its democratically-elected representatives.
Cr Deb O'Brien, who was elected on a Labor ticket, rhetorically asked if the three-month suspension was "motivated by politics, rather than the welfare of the people of the Armidale region".