What they said:

Cr Peta Betts:

Because of what happened last Tuesday (terminating the contract of CEO Phil Stone), we decided not to continue with the budget discussions that afternoon.

We agreed to a meeting last night (this Tuesday) to play catch up around the budget stuff.

When Mark (Dalzell) came back to me to retract his resignation, we had to call an extraordinary meeting to change the wording (of the resolution passed last week).

So I suggested that because we were going to be together for the budget meeting, we use that opportunity (for the extraordinary meeting).

I had previously sent out an email to all councillors to save the date for Tuesday (for the budget workshop) and Pat (Fogarty) had come back and said she would not be available because she would be with her husband Richard (who is undergoing treatment in Melbourne).

So that was fine, but that was only for the budget workshop.

Then we called the extraordinary meeting, and so technically the councillors have to apply for leave.

That didn't come, and I had no idea who was showing up so I said there was no formal leave of absence or apologies from Councillors Fogarty or Burge as per the code of meeting practice.

I asked for it to be noted, and I was happy to move on from there.

From my point of view, it was simply noting that I hadn't received them officially. It was to be noted and that should have been end of story.

When asked by the Pastoral Times if she wanted to comment on the exchange between herself and Cr Clapham, the mayor said:

It's disappointing. I had just finished reading the requirements of the council and you respect the rule of the chair.

I had asked for it to be noted, it was noted and we were ready to move on with the rest of the meeting. And other councillors were in agreeance with that.

Cr Harold Clapham:

Most importantly I wish to apologise to the people of Deniliquin for the unedifying scene at council last night.

It did not reflect well on the council, and does the community a disservice to see its leaders behaving like that.

More than anything, it was unacceptable.

All I was trying to do was acknowledge that a councillor who was not in attendance had previously told the council that she would be unable to attend, if not this specific meeting, the one scheduled to occur immediately following as she was in Melbourne caring for her husband.

Whether it was put in writing or not, surely it was a technicality we could have agreed to.

It did not have to denigrate to that.

The workshop to be held immediately after this extraordinary meeting in relation to the budget was meant to be held last Tuesday, but given the events of that day (the decision to dismiss Phil Stone) it could not occur then.

Cr Fogarty advised us then that she would be unable to attend the rescheduled workshop.

Since then we received notice of this extraordinary meeting to be held beforehand.

All councillors were aware Cr Fogarty would be unavailable that evening.

It was an unnecessary fracas and everyone came out of it looking badly – including myself.

Perhaps I should not have said what I said, but I should not have been provoked into that position.

After the events of our last meeting, which were traumatic for everyone involved, for council to denigrate into the maelstrom that was last night – for which I am equally responsible – was disappointing.

I certainly didn’t go into the meeting expecting an outcome like that, but I feel we should have had a bit more empathy.

The community should have confidence in the council it has elected to behave to a certain standard; in a matter that is befitting of the role.

The community deserves a council that is respectful of other humans, and that is not what was shown last night.

Cr Pat Fogarty:

We’re not Sydney City Council.

While technically needing to request leave of absence for each individual meeting is practice, it is just a courtesy – we don’t necessarily need to call for a leave of absence.

What used to happen is at one meeting you might say “I won’t be at the next meeting because I am on holidays, or whatever it is” and at that meeting the mayor would remind the councillors and it would be recorded.

The workshop which followed the extraordinary meeting was originally scheduled for 6pm, and then later this meeting was called to start at 6pm.

I was under the impression that by advising I could not attend the original meeting that the apology would be extended to the new meeting at the same time.

To embarrass Harold in an open forum like that is unacceptable and incredibly unprofessional.

It gives me cause to consider my position on council.

I was very grateful to Harold for his support in standing up, I’m just sorry he had to wear such abuse.