THE animosity between two councillors in Moyne Shire continued to be aired in public as a motion to censure failed at the council meeting on Tuesday.

Councillor, Jim Doukas wanted colleague Cr Damian Gleeson to be censured for bringing the council “into disrepute” at the March meeting and failing to adhere to the code of conduct.

“The motion’s about poor behaviour,” Cr Doukas said.

“From one councillor to another councillor.

“All I'm seeking is from Councillor Gleeson is an apology.”

Cr Gleeson had raised his voice angrily at the March meeting in response to a series of questions Cr Doukas had repeatedly submitted relating to wind farms.

At the time, Cr Gleeson said that the questions were answered by the chief executive and it was “time to put up or shut up”.

“I’ve had a gut full of it,” he had said at the meeting.

On Tuesday, both councillors accused each other of not doing their jobs properly, with some emotions showing.

The motion to censure was opposed by all other councillors, with some expressing their disappointment that the issue had come to the meeting.

Cr Karen Foster observed “we won't always get along” and “diversity of opinion and personality is a really healthy thing to have on a council team” but said Moyne ratepayers expected council to “just get on with our jobs”.

“I will just say that I think Councillor Gleeson was expressing a frustration that perhaps others were feeling as well,” she said.

Cr Daniel Meade called the matter “distractions” to the business of council and Cr Jordan Lockett said there were other ways to deal with these disagreements.

“There's several different avenues where (they can sort it out) if councillors have issues with each other or one's conduct or behaviour,” he said.

In reading mostly from a prepared response and sometimes pausing with his voice wavering, Cr Gleeson said he took the matter “pretty seriously” but didn’t retreat from his position.

“When I was elected to council, I had high hopes that we'd be able to make a difference,” he said.

“At our ordinary Council meeting on the first of March, I offered my unconditional support to our CEO and by extension, his staff.

“I stand by this 100 per cent.

“I will never apologise for supporting staff from the CEO down when they are accused of lying without any supporting evidence.”

Speaking in response, Cr Doukas took issue that Cr Gleeson “even used some of my words” and said the solution was simple.

“Counsellor Gleeson, if you were doing your job properly, you’d just say sorry for your outburst and be done with it,” Cr Doukas said.

Cr James Purcell said he believed council had no “right, or power to censure Councillor Gleeson” and suggested maybe a workshop on the code of conduct would be a way forward.

“I think it would do all of us good.”