Dayne Gumley says he's resigned as a Dubbo councillor because it's what the community expects him to do.
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Mr Gumley resigned on Monday night, just moments before the July Dubbo Regional Council meeting.
On Tuesday, he told the Daily Liberal it felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He said his resignation was on the back of the independent investigation into council.
The investigator was hired to look into the way previous code of conduct complaints had been dealt with by council. On Monday night, mayor Stephen Lawrence said the findings of the investigation showed "systemic failures" in the way complaints had been handled.
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"I maintained right from the start that I would await the findings of the independent report before I took a position one way or another," Mr Gumley said.
"Initially, I read the report and while there were concerning things within it, I didn't fully appreciate the seriousness of it. Then we participated in the confidential briefing [Monday] afternoon and it became apparent that what was outlined in the report was significantly more serious."
Mr Gumley said council had been a "debacle" since March and the community was hungry for action.
"I thought at the end of the day, while not directly influenced by me, these problems occurred while I was a councillor. It's time for someone to stand up, take responsibility and start acquiescing to the community's desire for change," he said.
"It's difficult for the community because the election keeps getting postponed, but really the fourth of December can't come fast enough. I think the community is hungry to be able to vote again and affect change within the organisation.
"I thought, as a matter of my own conscience and integrity I'd take that decision out of their hands and make the call myself."
But while he's stepped away from council - which now has eight councillors instead of the usual 10 - he said he's not pushing for all of the other councillors to do the same.
"There will be councillors who say 'I've done nothing wrong, so why should I quit?' And I agree with that, it's a valid response. But I look at it a little bit bigger than that. I'm concerned about the community and how they feel and certainly all the feedback is that they want a broom put through the place, including the councillors," Mr Gumley said.
"It's a really personal decision, there's not a right or wrong answer."
While he's said in the past he'll be standing in the next election. Now, Mr Gumley said he was on the fence.
"Given the last 24 hours I'm considering my position. I'll wait and see how this pans out and what the community feels about it," he said.
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