Cr Frank Dooley, called on Resource Management Committee chairman Brett Cummings to remove Cr Birchfield from the meeting.
It culminated in Cr Birchfield's close ally and fellow goldminer, Cr Cummings, defending Cr Birchfield's right to stay — and threatening to leave himself, saying he had had "a gutsful."
As it unfolded, chief executive Darryl Lew called for the livestream recording of the meeting to be stopped. A short while later the room cleared of staff and public.
It all unfolded just after the full council meeting for October had adjourned.
The council is in the midst of an internal inquiry over its rates after council last week apologised for a potential mistake in the way rates invoices had been calculated, which led to some ratepayers being hit with 100% bill increases.
But earlier, under testy questioning from Cr Birchfield, Cr Dooley was challenged as chairman of the Risk and Assurance Committee over the current rates mess facing the council.
The former chairman, Cr Birchfield, was censured and removed from all council committees on August 8 after allegations over the leaking of confidential business.
As the committee meeting started yesterday, Cr Birchfield remained seated. That immediately drew the ire of Cr Dooley, who said he was entitled to stay in the room but not at the table due to his censure.
"He is still an elected member — I'm happy with it."
"Whether you are happy with it is irrelevant. He (Birchfield) has been suspended from council committees. This is a council committee meeting," Cr Dooley said.
The councillor was entitled to stay in the room as an observer, but not as a councillor. Council chairman Peter Haddock agreed.
Cr Birchfield responded that well over 3000 people had voted him to the council a year ago and he believed he was legally entitled to remain.
A frustrated Cr Dooley urged Cr Cummings to remove him from the table.
Cr Cummings stuck to his guns, however.
"What difference does it make where he sits?"
"He is suspended. You are the chairman of this committee, and you have an obligation to direct him (to leave)" Cr Dooley said.
Cr Dooley doubled down, and asked Cr Cummings if he was aware of the outcome of the August 8 censure of Cr Birchfield.
"I might just get up and get out of here," Cr Cummings replied.
"I have had a gutsful."
At that point, the chief executive called the meeting to a halt, stopped the livestreaming on the internet and noted the media presence.
A few minutes later, Cr Birchfield exited the room with Cr Cummings, who then returned to chair the meeting.
Immediately after the meeting, Cr Birchfield told The Greymouth Star he had advice he was legally entitled to remain on all council committees.
It was mutually agreed with Cr Cummings "out of respect for him" that it was better not to stay on today.
Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.
By Brendon McMahon
