Sauer returned as deputy mayor

The session then moved on to committee positions, but the newly re-anointed DM suggested these be handled by exception, with councillors well-entrenched in their positions as council now enters the third year of its four-year term.

There were, however, council positions to be filled on the newly-formed Youth Advisory Council. Mayor Peter Petty along with Cr Sauer and Cr Bronwyn Petrie will take these up.

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Ordinary council meetings will continue to be held form 9.30am on the fourth Wednesday of each month, with no meeting in January and the December meeting held a week earlier. The village meetings in the coming 12 months are Legume (February) and Drake (August),

A more controversial decision was on removing a recommendation for pre-meeting briefing sessions, chaired by the chief executive (Terry Dodds) and closed to the public, ahead of regular council meetings as per the Model Code of Meeting Practice adopted in June.

Although the policy precludes councillors using these sessions to debate or make preliminary decisions, it is known in other local government areas for the public meetings to devolve into just a formal vote on decisions.

Cr Gary Verri voiced his concerns, and long-serving councillors Mr Petty, John Macnish and Tom Peters recalled it being part of common practice is earlier years but was discontinued on the urging of the Local Government Association on concerns it was used inappropriately.

Cr Verri said such practices are not viewed well by the public as it's seen as decisions being made in private.

Cr Petty said he's proud of the decisions that come out of Tenterfield's council meetings, and their transparency. Councillors also take part in workshops when they can seek more information on matters before them.

Councillors voted to remove the allowance for pre-meeting briefings, with no dissenters.