Thousands of people watched online and the public gallery at the Gore District Council was filled with supporters of Mayor Ben Bell today, who clapped and cheered when a motion to try and remove him failed to cross the line.
There was meant to be a vote of no confidence in the Mayor but when it came to moving the motion nobody said a word.
Deputy Mayor Keith Hovell spoke at the extraordinary meeting and said there had been poor behaviours and a loss of trust at council.
“People that know me know I’m conservative and I don’t like confrontation.”
He said mental and physical health was at risk and they couldn’t just carry on and pretend nothing had happened.
“I don’t want a community of whispering.”
He apologised for not inviting the Mayor and Cr Robert McKenzie to Friday’s meeting where a requisition was signed by seven councillors calling for today’s extraordinary meeting.
Cr Hovell said he’d since had old Mayors, new Mayors, retired Mayors and even a priest contact him to give advice and opinion on the issue.
He said his name and other councillors had been put on a petition signed by 4000 people calling for council’s CEO to resign – “when they had no authority to do that.”
It was finally the Mayor’s turn to speak and Ben Bell said having councillors call for his resignation was one of his darkest days of his life.
“But I’ve had support from the community and that has lifted me up.”
He acknowledged the council needed some “desperate” help from the professionals and didn’t want Gore to be the town that’s constantly in the headlines.
“It’s not the Gore way,” he said concluding that when things get back on track, “what a redemption story it will be.”
Council has agreed to seek help from the Minister of Local Government.
A meeting would take place with council representatives to discuss intervention measures available to assist the Council to effectively govern and conduct its business as usual.