It had all those who attended believing the new year had brought change to councillor attitudes toward each other and gave a false sense of security that councillors were really there to benefit the community and Lithgow as a whole.

Councillors spoke respectfully and appeared to work together for a positive outcome on the majority of items listed on the agenda.

Until, item 24 — the minutes from the Community Development committee meeting held on December 22.

Part of the minutes included the 2015 Local Citizenship Award.

It was decided by the committee that no nominations put forward for the Open Citizen Achievement Award met the criteria so an award was not given in this category on Australia Day.

What should have been a simple minutes report for some reason upset Cr McGinnes who demanded an apology.

Cr McGinnes is on the Community Development committee and although did not attend the meeting would have received the minutes from it.

Hence Cr McGinnes was not met with an apology and after some questions from other councillors on the change of criteria Cr McGinnes stormed out of the meeting.

Cr Ticehurst stated all councillors should be provided with the criteria if it changes and requested a copy of all applications for the open category.

Council replied that this will be arranged and that the unsuccessful applicants will all be contacted through mail and an explanation will be attached.

It was also requested by a few councillors to be supplied with the criteria for the future.

The meeting minutes for the December 22 were carried and the requests from councillors regarding criteria change were noted.

Some of those in the public forum have since mentioned councillors are still not content to work together for the betterment of Lithgow's future and its residents but to continue with pettiness and disruptions that will benefit nobody.

Was this a wise move by Cr McGinnes with elections looming?

Has the Lithgow community had enough of the carry-on and would like councillors and council just to get on with the job at hand — The betterment of Lithgow!