By MATT NICHOLLS
ADAM Marshall delivered a pointed spray at Armidale Dumaresq councillors on Monday night, urging them to lift their game for the sake of the town and its residents.
The Member for Northern Tablelands requested to speak at the monthly governance and risk meeting, which was facilitated by mayor Laurie Bishop.
Mr Marshall told the councillors that they need to put their bickering aside and the council do its job for the community.
“I told them that they couldn’t afford to be at war with each other and needed to work with one another,” he said.
“It wasn’t personal and it wasn’t directed at any individuals, but I made it clear that people were not impressed with their behaviour.”
Mr Marshall attended last month’s ordinary council meeting, his first one since Cr Bishop took on the reins as mayor, and said he had never seen such behaviour in a council chamber.
Deputy mayor Jenny Bailey said the MP made several valid points.
“I think it was respected by councillors because of his background in local government,” she said.
“I would love to see councillors work better together and I think we are making slow progress.”
Mr Marshall was voted to the Gunnedah Shire Council at just 19 years old and became the youngest mayor in NSW at 22.
Before he moved to Armidale, he was the chair of the NSW Country Mayors’ Association and vice-president of Local Government NSW.
“I just wanted to let the councillors know that their actions in the chamber and their bickering do reflect on this city,” Mr Marshall said.
