The cost of investigating complaints against Griffith councillors has cost ratepayers $98,350 in 12 months.
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For the 2017-2018 financial year, 13 code of conduct complaints were lodged to Griffith City Council.
Six of those complaints were forwarded to an independent investigator.
Its an increase on the previous year, 2016-2017, when five complaints were made and four were investigated for a total cost of $19,225.
Each year, councils are required to report the number of complaints and the costs to residents.
The results for the last two financial years stand in stark contrast to previous four years of the last council between 2012 and 2016.
During those four years there were just 20 complaints made and none were escalated to an independent investigator. The cost of administering those complaints amounted to $54,729.
Paul Rossetto was a councillor between 2012 and 2016 and said the number of complaints pointed to dysfunction among councillors.
Mr Rossetto said the debates in the chamber during his term were balanced
He said dysfunctional councils were often the result of a caucused council where councillors were focused on maintaining their political positions within the caucus as opposed to the citys future.
The code of conduct is a last resort and in a functional council, councillors and staff should be able to address issues without resorting to legally binding recourse, Mr Rossetto said.
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Former councillor Bill Lancaster described code of conduct complaints as games and agreed they should be only be used as a last resort.
Im sure that councillors who are intent on doing the best job they can, dont have many code of conduct complaints, Mr Lancaster said.
Mr Lancaster said the number of complaints were symptomatic of problems between councillors.
Theyre games, theyre seeking to gain political advantage but with any luck an independent investigator will see through that.
Mayor John Dal Broi wasnt happy with the amount ratepayers were charged and said it risked drawing the attention of the NSW Local Government Minister.
We as councillors have the right to debate on various issues that come before us but once you walk out of a council meeting, you need to walk away, Cr Dal Broi said.
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Declan Rurenga
Declan Rurenga was the editor of Griffith's Area News and Leeton's Irrigator until September 2023. Before landing at the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, he reported news in Junee, Wagga Wagga, Orange and Cootamundra.
Declan Rurenga was the editor of Griffith's Area News and Leeton's Irrigator until September 2023. Before landing at the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, he reported news in Junee, Wagga Wagga, Orange and Cootamundra.
