Two suspended councillors have made verbal submissions on day 11 of the public inquiry into Wingecarribee Shire Council.
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Larry Whipper and Ian Scandrett were the only two speakers on Monday, April 11.
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A councillor for Wingecarribee Shire Council for approximately 21 years, Mr Whipper said the last two terms of the council had become "volatile".
"Council is a strange beast," he said.
"It has certainly changed in the 21 years that I have served on the council.
"There's been ups and downs, obviously there have been personality clashes, value clashes all the way through but for the best part, I think there's always been a commitment to serve the community and the residents.
"The last two terms of the council have become quite volatile, I've seen a bit of a decline in that which is unfortunate."
In his submission to Commissioner Ross Glover and officer assisting David Parish, Mr Whipper said some of the animosity from the 2012-2016 term had crept into the 2016-2020 term of council.
"Certainly some of the personalities and some of the agenda," he said,
"One of the things I regret on council is that people have very big egos and small agendas, and I think it's to the detriment of the community.
"I think it well and truly played in the last term council, where egos and agenda got out of hand."
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He also said that he felt that council disruptions were purposely done.
"I believe that all councillors understood their obligations," he said.
"I think some chose to disrupt purposely for their agenda.
"One of the things I noticed was there was from some councillors, a total lack of respect, and I think that has been to our detriment... I think the behaviour of some of the councillors deliberately wounded that competence."
Mr Whipper described council meetings as rude and abusive when asked by Mr Parrish to give examples.
"Some of it was very undignified behaviour," he said.
"There were attacks on staff at times, certainly a lot of hostility, a lot of anger. That got out of hand, and it impacted everybody in the room."
Ian Scandrett was the final witness for the day.
Mr Scandrett said he became involved with Wingecarribee Shire Council after he moved to the shire in 2006 when he started attending council meetings.
He unsuccessfully ran for Wingecarribee Shire Council in 2008 and was elected in 2012 and re-elected in 2016.
Mr Scandrett was questioned by Mr Parish on the Code of Conduct and section 3.22.
Section 3.22 of the Office of Local Government model Code of Conduct for local councils states that a councillor must not engage in any acts of disorder or other conduct that is intended to prevent the proper or effective functioning of the council, or a committee of the council.
Mr Scandrett said he generally adhered to the code of conduct meeting.
"I'd like to think I did," he said.
"However the cut and thrust of being a councillor and engaging with other councillors in a meeting sometimes tested that.
"I believe I was generally a polite and communicative councillor but there were times when provocative acts, unfortunately, got the best of me. And there were times like that.
"...I didn't set out to commit acts of disorder to disrupt the council. I set out to represent the community that elected me."
In his submission, Mr Scandrett said he had been bullied by other councillors in acts that transgressed the Code of Conduct.
"Harassment was a part of bullying," he said,
"Aggressive action in the chamber, threatening action in the chamber, spreading malicious rumours... pressuring me to behave inappropriately."
When asked by Mr Parish if he felt his behaviour contributed to the dysfunction of the council or toxic culture among staff, Mr Scandrett said he didn't believe he did.
"I believe that I always acted reasonably and within general codes concerning our staff," he said.
The public inquiry will continue until April 14.
All transcripts and a list of speakers can be found on the Office of Local Government website.
Anyone who wishes to watch past proceedings can do so via the Wingecarribee Shire Council YouTube channel.
Residents who wish to view the live proceedings may do so by watching the live stream on the Office of Local Government website.
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Vera Demertzis
Journalist at the Southern Highland News covering council yarns and community news. Got a tip or a story to tell? Email vera.demertzis@southernhighlandnews.com.au or call on 0427 250 908.
Journalist at the Southern Highland News covering council yarns and community news. Got a tip or a story to tell? Email vera.demertzis@southernhighlandnews.com.au or call on 0427 250 908.
