A packed public gallery of concerned residents and ratepayers left the Moree Plains Shire Council ordinary meeting on Thursday no wiser than when they entered the council chambers two hours earlier.

Nearly every person in the gallery, including former councillors Murray Hartin, Katrina Humphries, Mick Cikota and Col Pring, wanted to know why popular general manager Kelvin Tytherleigh was leaving after two years in office – but the question remained unanswered when ratepayers and residents vacated chambers at midday.

Mr Tytherleigh diplomatically said in a statement last week, the decision to leave was by “mutual agreement”.

Moree mayor Susannah Pearse thanked Mr Tytherleigh for his role in numerous shire projects with local, state and federal governments.

These included the Inland Rail Project, Moree Special Activation Precinct, as well as crime and community safety, including award-winning collaboration with Balonne Shire Council on cross-border initiatives.

Mr Tytherleigh developed and implemented the award-winning Burnt and Derelict Housing Program, which resulted in 30 properties being remediated this year.

He was also a key figure in the upgrade of airport infrastructure to enable improved services for regular passenger transport with QantasLink.

Mr Tytherleigh was also instrumental in improving workplace culture and practices.

Moree Plains Shire Council general manager Kelvin Tytherleigh will leave early next year.

“As mayor and former deputy mayor in the last term of council, I extend my sincere thanks for Kelvin’s service to our shire,” Cr Pearse said.

“We had a packed public gallery (Thursday), with many in attendance showing their support for Mr Tytherleigh and some demanding an explanation of the specific reasons behind his departure.

“Council appreciates that transparency around decision-making is important to our community,” she said.

“Whilst the community may wish to understand the reasons behind Kelvin’s departure, as our councillors and former councillors know from their governance training, as it was a confidential, personal matter, dealt with in closed council, and any disclosure of discussions and particulars is strictly prohibited under legislation.

“Council has, however, taken the community’s cries for improved transparency seriously, supporting my Mayoral Minute to move to best practice and move to live webcasting of council meetings,” she said.

“This is a meaningful step forward to ensure the community can tune in to our meetings from anywhere and stay up-to-date on the business that matters to them,” mayor Pearse said.

Cr Kelly James, who later called for “a vote of no confidence in the office of mayor”, encouraged Mr Tytherleigh to reconsider his “departure by mutual agreement”.

“This gallery shows how committed this community is to your leadership,” she told Mr Tytherleigh.

“It is not every day a town adopts an outsider, and that should be something you should be extremely proud of, as in 12 short months the staff morale and cohesion of this community has been a testament to you,” she said.

Cr James, arguably Mr Tytherleigh’s biggest supporter, told council and the gallery, she held “deep concerns regarding the mayor’s management of the general manager’s employment contract”.

“The recent upheaval we have witnessed is not just a reflection of poor leadership; it is also a blatant waste of ratepayers’ hard-earned money,” Cr James said.

At an extraordinary council meeting last Thursday, held to discuss a “confidential update from the general manager’s office”, Cr James was twice called out for acts of disorder by the mayor.

“My actions last week came from my passion for this community and the fear of what this decision is going to cost us,” Cr James said.

“It’s not just about the dollars and cents; it impacts our reputation, our ability to progress, the stability of our team, and our capacity to attract quality staff and develop strategic partnerships,” she said.

“These elements are crucial for fostering anything positive for our community.

“As a community, we expect our leaders to make informed, fiscally responsible decisions. “Unfortunately, mayor Pearse’s actions have fallen short of these expectations, revealing a troubling lack of judgment and accountability,” Cr James said.

Kelly James is sworn in as a councillor by general manager Kelvin Tytherleigh in October.

Cr James lodged a Notice of Motion, being “ a vote of no confidence in the office of mayor”.

“If this motion passes, I want to make it clear I will not be standing for the position of mayor,” Cr James told Council.

“Instead, I suggest the only remaining councillor with knowledge of the last served term (Cr Sauer) take up the role in the interim until our first council meeting of 2025, which will be held in February.

“This will ensure continuity and stability as we move forward. I urge my fellow councillors to support this motion. Together, we can demand better leadership and work towards a more sustainable future for our community.

“The Council must serve as a platform for the voices of our community,” she said.

Six councillors voted against the motion, with Cr Fred McGrady abstaining.

Former Moree councillor Murray Hartin spoke passionately about Mr Tytherleigh, and the impact the general manager has made on the local community.

He said ratepayers and residents at Thursday’s council meeting deserved to know the details surrounding Mr Tytherleigh’s shock “resignation”.

“Kelvin Tytherleigh was the best thing that ever happened to this shire,” Mr Hartin said.

“The truth will come out, sooner or later, and we’ll get the answer to the question the people of this shire have been asking, and are entitled to have answered,” he said.