Wollongong and Shellharbour councillors have called on the NSW government to set politics aside if it chooses to forge ahead with its merger proposal and form an interim council in the coming months.
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However, responding to the Mercury’s questions about their role in any future temporary body, representatives had divergent views about how Local Government minister Paul Toole should select councillors.
Councillors were asked to submit an expression of interest by April 15, explaining why they would be suitable for the interim council or why they were qualified to act as an administrator.
Greens councillor George Takacs believed they should be able to “opt out”, as he has, to “reduce the potential for political interference in the make up of the interim council.”
Similarly, Labor’s David Brown thought all should be given the chance to serve, as “the democratic mandate of elected councillors should be respected”.
Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery also thought political allegiances should be set aside, but thought those who received the most votes in 2011 elections should have first dibs.
But vehement critic of the merger process John Murray, who has refused to take part in an interim body, said it would be fairer for all councillors to be sacked and an “independent administrator” to merge the two entities.
“This would be an expeditious process to hold elections and democratically select new councillors,” he said. “That elected council would then go through a fair and transparent process to appoint a new general manager.”
In contrast, Liberal councillor John Dorahy believed his party’s interim process was a “tough and correct path”.
“This government didn't take it upon itself to nominate particular councillors, as there would have been verbal and written uproar about the process,” he said.
A spokeswoman for Mr Toole said: “No decisions will be made about the role serving councillors may have in a new council before decisions are made about merger proposals.”