There were threats to suspend the "fiery" Dubbo council meeting on Tuesday night as councillors debated reducing the mayor's pay.
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Councillors at the Dubbo Regional Council meeting had to vote on cuts to the mayoral fee and the possibility of hiring an independent investigator to deal with code of conduct complaints.
But during a heated discussion by councillor Greg Mohr, who labelled the decision to cut the fee as "gutless" and "disgraceful", acting mayor Stephen Lawrence warned his colleague that personal attacks would not be permitted.
After calling another councillor a hypocrite, Cr Mohr was told to apologise - which he refused - and warned that his repeated inappropriate conduct would lead to a 15 minute suspension of the meeting.
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Cr Mohr was alone in voting for the mayoral fee not to be given to the acting mayor during extended leave. However his comments against the vote were greeted with cheers from members of the public.
Currently, every councillor receives $24,320. However, the mayor is given just under $60,000 on top of that fee for their extended role.
After Tuesday night's vote, if a mayor is absent they will only receive the councillor pay and the additional fee will be given to the acting mayor.
Cr Lawrence said the additional money he would receive would be donated to Apollo House.
He also hit back at criticisms from Cr Mohr that council decisions were creating poor metal health conditions.
"I reject emotional manipulation. I reject emotional blackmail... It should not affect our course," Cr Lawrence said.
He said it would be "quite wrong" to respond to the events that lead to the hospitalisation of mayor Ben Shields by "changing course [and] acting other than in the public interests of the community".
Overall, Cr Lawrence said he believed the meeting was the one of the fieriest this council had ever had, but said the decisions made were appropriate and positive.
Speaking about his decision to donate the additional pay to charity, Cr Lawrence said he thought it was only fair.
"I never intended to be the acting mayor or the mayor. I earn pretty good coin as a barrister so I don't need the money," he said.
"My colleagues are helping me out with a whole range of the mayoral duties, including Cr Mohr who is obviously not that happy with me but is assisting as well.
"In all of those circumstances I don't want the money, I feel it's appropriate to donate it and I really rate the work of Apollo House."
Councillor John Ryan was full of praise for the decision to donate the money to charity.
He said there were many councils where higher duties payments automatically went to the person in the acting mayor's role.
Cr Mohr was the only councillor who voted against the decision. Councillors Dayne Gumley and David Grant were absent from the meeting.
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