Nothing seemed to be off limits at council chambers last night, as the meeting descended into a verbal slinging match.
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Shoalhaven Mayor Amanda Findley was forced to adjourn the meeting for the second time in three months, in an attempt to settle tensions.
Cr Andrew Guile called her a goose for doing so, and the heated conversation continued between Crs Findley and Guile until they called a truce and resumed the meeting.
Residents who watched from the gallery were shocked by what has been described as a “complete circus”.
“It was disgraceful,” Aaron Heiler said.
“Three older ladies sitting to the right of me were almost in tears.
"Guile was disgusting, he called the mayor a goose, then he attacked Joanna Gash and called most of the councillors liars.
“But the majority of his abuse was directed at mayor.”
Mr Heiler occasionally attends council meetings, and said he has not witnessed behaviour like that before.
“Last night they just outdid themselves,” he said.
Fairfax Media received several phone calls from residents concerned about the tone of the meeting, particularly in respect to Crs Mitchell Pakes, Guile and to a lesser extent, Greg Watson.
“I can’t believe intelligent people can behave like school children in an environment like that,” witness Sue Tolley said.
“In the workplace they would be disciplined for bullying behaviour.
“They were all joining in, egging each other on, I can't describe how appalling it is.
“That sort of behaviour is so intimidating.”
Ronnie Kroon said nasty remarks were directed at onlookers, after some of them admittedly booed at councillors.
“They were insulting to us, too, in the gallery,” Mrs Kroon said.
“He (Cr Guile) knows we cant say anything back, he just thought, ‘let’s pick on someone who cant say anything.’”
Cr Guile said his statements were made in frustration.
“It comes down to poor chairmanship of a meeting,” he said.
“If you apply the guillotine and cut people off you’re going to get people offside.
“I apologise unreservedly for personal remarks.
“But for statements about council, don’t try and censor them, if you disagree, argue against it.”
Mayor Findley urged community members to not tarnish all councillors with the same brush.
“If some councillors chose to behave like that it’s a reflection on them,” she said.
“It makes the staff embarrassed that visitors to our council have to witness that kind of stuff.
“We’re letting our community down, they expect us to be efficient.”