It was resolved at last week’s council meeting  investigate the costs of two constitutional referendums on the issues.

Cr Saliba used her mayoral minute to ask fellow councillors to resore “the right” that was taken away when council was reinstated in 2011, following its dismissal.

“Wollongong City Council was reinstated with the exact same numbers, same ward system and election for mayor. Shellharbour was halved, we were decimated. We were cut down to seven, no wards and an internally-elected mayor and I don’t’ believe that is in the best interest of the community,” she said.

“I believe very passionately that the people of Shellharbour should be the ones to decide who the mayor is, not us seven.”

Cr Peter Moran said he had no firm views on the matter but held concerns about internal council stability if a mayor was popularly elected.

“We could find a situation where a popularly elected mayor lacks the support in the elected council body, which causes its own problems,” he said. 

Cr Paul Rankin said Cr Moran’s comments were a “fair call” and he would review his decision based on the cost report.

Cr Kellie Marsh did not support the move and accused the mayor of putting forward a motion that supported her own interests and that of the Labor party.

Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson commended the move saying it was  ‘‘restoring the rights’’ which were ‘‘inexplicably’’ taken away from citizens by the Liberal party in 2011.

Cr Helen Stewart referred to council’s history of popularly elected mayors and said it ran the risk of seeing politics infiltrate local council.

“This Shellharbour government area has always been Labor preferred, that’s the way people vote, and I don’t want politics in local government - politics in local government destroyed the last council,” she said.

“The councillors, at the end of the day, are in the best possible position to determine who should be mayor.”

Council staff said the additional election costs would be minimal to include staffing cost, stationery and advertising.

Mayor Saliba said the referendum to increase councillors from seven to eight or nine, was in response to concerns raised by councillors that seven was an “inefficient and ineffective number of councillors”. 

Cr David Boyle supported the move and said he found it “strange” that Kiama Council had nine councillors with a population of 20,000 and Shellharbour only had seven for a population of 65,000.

Cr John Murray added that more councillors would alleviate council workload and committee burdens.

The move was considered “political posturing” by Cr Moran who voted against the motion and said it was an effort to gain political advantage and was unnecessary from a community standpoint. 

Crs Marsh, Moran and Stewart voted against both motions. The report is expected to be presented at the first council meeting of 2015.