Residents will "feel more comfortable about telling their stories" if an independent person or group conducts a review of Dubbo Regional Council's operations, says state Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders.
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Mr Saunders reports of being approached by "enough" people to make the complaint process at the council a concern and the appointment of an independent investigator necessary.
His call for an inquiry has not fallen on deaf ears with a majority of councillors at an extraordinary meeting on Monday asking for a report on the "options for the appointment of an independent investigator and possible terms of reference for such an investigation" by May 3.
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On Tuesday morning Mr Saunders said NSW Local Government Minister Shelley Hancock was "now pretty supportive" of an independent investigation after having a "robust discussion" with him on Monday afternoon.
On April 7, six councillors called on mayor Ben Shields to resign and members of the community dissatisfied with their interactions with any councillor to come forward.
Cr Shields has taken indefinite medical leave with deputy mayor Stephen Lawrence moving into the top job.
Mr Saunders was asked by the media about his call for an independent investigator after he helped turn the first sod on the $30 million car park project at Dubbo Hospital on Tuesday morning.
"People have come forward to me saying that they have asked or queried things or complained and never really heard anything more," he said.
"It needs to be an open process where people can feel confident that if they are making a complaint or querying something, it will actually be looked at properly."
Mr Saunders wants the investigation carried out in the "short term" and well before the September local government poll.
He said the investigator, who would "look at everything" including finances and policies, might be acquired through a recommendation from the Office of Local Government or from a callout to "retired mayors or GMs (general managers) from around the state".
"There's a number of ways that it could actually happen and I think the minister could have input on that herself as well," the MP said.
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