Walgett Shire Council has come under increased scrutiny following an investigation by the Department of Local Government.
The investigation came after the department received numerous complaints about the council and concluded by outlining 12 areas of concern for council to improve on.
The department will now monitor council quarterly to assess the financial situation and recommended a mentor be appointed to oversee senior staff.
This move comes after it was revealed that council's infrastructure was in a deteriorating state and that more than $11 million would need to be spent to bring it back to a satisfactory standard.
The 12 areas of concern were:
o Council had failed to properly categorise business land for rating purposes and had breached the provisions of the Local Government Association.
o A $15,000 bonus payment was received by the general manager from a review committee without council's approval.
o Council needed to determine the resources allocated towards the employment of staff as no provision had been made.
o Council appointed two managers to positions that neither had applied for.
o There were too many senior staff positions (11 senior staff are employed with a ratio of one for every 10 employees).
o There are 12 councillors, (Walgett Shire Council is only one in five councils across the State to have that many appointed, with the norm being nine or less).
o The need to make improvements in the database for tracking documents to enable separation of different types of correspondence.
o Council did not follow its policy in recruiting one of its senior staff members.
o Council's inaction in regard to a grant received of $270,000 in 1997 for the proposed Lightning Ridge community centre.
o Council records of whether the deputy mayoral allowance was deducted or in addition to the mayoral allowance for when the deputy acted in his capacity were unclear.
o A meeting held at Angledool Station to discuss natural resource management and native vegetation for which there was no documentation - however the department believes this matter does not need further investigation.
o Council's inadequate procedures for decision-making.
As a result the department has recommended council appoint a mentor to oversee senior staff for at least six months, with the appointed mentor required to report back on a monthly basis.
At Monday's monthly council meeting heated discussion resulted as a full gallery of local residents sat to hear what council's reaction would be towards the department's investigation and findings.
Mayor Peter Waterford said he voted against appointing a mentor.
"We'll show the director-general that we don't need one."
However he said the issue needed to be discussed further at the next council meeting.
But Councillor Alan Friend didn't take too kindly to the mayor's suggestions and said he felt a mentor should be appointed immediately because the council was "in a mess".
Cr Bob Hewlett said he could not believe council was meant to reduce senior management but then appoint a mentor as a new boss above the general manager.
"We should wait until Vic North (general manager) gets back from annual leave before we make any decisions."
However, the extent of mixed feelings between councillors during the meeting led to Cr Tim Horan calling for a 'no confidence' vote in some senior management staff, which he did not name, and the resignation of the mayor.
Mayor Waterford did not allow Cr Horan to move the motion and concluded by saying "no I will not (resign)".
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