The matter was heard at the council meeting on Thursday prompted by a notice of motion from former Bombala Mayor and SMRC councillor Bob Stewart.

The newly formed committee, Save Bombala Inc welcomed the Snowy Monaro Regional Council’s decision to have Mayor Rooney retract his statements about the performance of the former Bombala Council on an ABC radio interview in February. 

Spokesperson off the Save Bombala committee said the interview was made the day after the successful Bombala community meeting calling for a demerger plebiscite.

Save Bombala believe the retraction is appropriate because at the time of the merger in 2016 Bombala Council had over $11 M in the bank and was fully debt free with Bombala Council fully meeting four of the “Fit for the Future” indicators where as Cooma met three and Snowy River met two.

On ABC radio on Monday morning Mayor Rooney was unapologetic only clarifying a specific term 'bankruptcy'.

"I will now on ratio retract the statement of bankruptcy, which on advice I regard as inappropriate.

"Bankruptcy is a term which is applied to individuals and to corporations that cannot meet their liabilities," Mr Rooney said.

Councillor Bob Stewart said he didn't believe that what clr Rooney said on ABC radio was a retraction.

"I don't believe myself or the former Bombala Council deserve that sort of criticism," he said.

Clr Sue Haslingden said that although she didn't get involved with the discussion about what the Mayor said on radio she thought that Clr Stewart was professional and reasonable in is request that the Mayor withdraw his comments.

"Mayor Rooney made some misinformed comments about the pre-merged Bombala Council of which Clr Stewart was Mayor at the time," Clr Haslingden said.

"His comments are not acceptable."