At an extraordinary meeting of council on Monday, six councillors accepted a mayoral minute, put forward by acting mayor Stephen Lawrence, with eight recommendations to rectify the reputation of council and protection of the community.

The motion included the request for a confidential report be presented to councillors in seven days on April 19, advising them of any and all complaints, allegations, and suggestions of misconduct on behalf of any councillor, at any time, including those that have already been dismissed without action.

Councillors Greg Mohr and David Grant did not vote in favour of the recommendations. Councillors Ben Shields and Dayne Gumley were absent.

The meeting comes after six councillors signed a public statement calling on Cr Shields to resign and members of the community who had concerns about their interactions with any councillor to come forward.

The council later announced Cr Shields would take indefinite medical leave, effective immediately, with deputy mayor Stephen Lawrence to step into the mayoral role.

It was later revealed Cr Shields was in intensive care at Dubbo Hospital. On Monday it was announced Cr Shields had been flown to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney to undergo emergency surgery after suffering medical complications and a decline in health.

On Monday there was a full public gallery in strong support of Cr Shields, who were warned they would be asked to leave if they did not refrain from interrupting and heckling.

Cr Mohr has strongly opposed the motion saying he was "appalled" and "disgusted".

"It's ethically, procedurally and morally wrong," Cr Mohr said as the gallery applauded.

He said only seven days to looking into allegations dating back indefinitely was "unjust" and should be dealt with through the Local Government Act.

"If we're going to do an investigation we just can't do an investigation within seven days and have a half report come to council without having all the full facts," he said.

"Police investigations take months, ICAC investigations take months if not years to complete."

In the meeting the six councillors endorsed an independent investigator being appointed to review the operations of the council.

A report would be presented at the May 3 ordinary council meeting with advice and terms of reference for a possible independent investigator, which Cr Lawrence said would be a priority to ensure transparency.

Cr Lawrence said there had been a broad range of diverse allegations bought to his attention, involving staff, departments of staff, community members, organisations within the community and the media.

"There's a whole raft of allegations swirling around the community about misconduct and wrongdoing at council," Cr Lawrence said.

"These things need to be investigated because the community needs to have confidence in its council."

Councillors also voted that a report would be provided on May 3 with advice around what powers the mayor in between council meetings can be lawfully removed or reduced, and whether the mayoral fees, expenses and facilities for the mayor and councillors and determined annually by council resolution be lawfully reduced or eliminated.

Cr Lawrence said he was "confident in the direction" council took, and said while many might find proceeding with the proposals in Cr Shields' absence as "insensitive", he said they couldn't just ignore allegations.

"I took the view, though it's very difficult, that it is proper and appropriate that the business of council continue," Cr Lawrence said.

"I just don't think it's feasible that these important matters simply cease to be processed because of one person and their very unfortunate illness.

"My view that was put to the councillors, and the councillors agreed, was that the business of council must continue."

Multiple people from the public gallery spoke in support of Cr Shields' including his father, Les Shields.

"The Dubbo ratepayers will find out the truth. By September we'll have at least six new councillors and I'll be trying my hardest to make that happen," he said.

Cr Lawrence said he "respected" the views expressed by the public gallery, and councillors had to make difficult judgement calls.

"I respect entirely the views that were expressed in the public gallery," he said.

"Those judgement calls don't please everybody, but I believe that all the councillors that voted today, voted according to what they thought was the right thing to do, and that's all the community can ask of us."