Mr Brown has several ongoing gripes with council but said the straw that broke the camel’s back was when he was told not to promote the library through a column in the Maitland Mercury.

The former councillor said after penning an article for the Mercury earlier this month, which outlined library events and activities, he was urged not to promote the library in the column, but rather express his own opinion.

“It’s very strange because I’ve spent 22 years promoting the library,” Mr Brown said.

Maitland City Librarian Keryl Collard said “any member of the community can express an opinion on library services and programs, but they don’t speak on behalf of council or the library”.

“The library is responsible for promoting library services and programs,” she said.

Mr Brown said the message was passed on by library staff, but the decision had come from senior management. He believes simmering tensions among councillors had played a role in the matter.

“I’m very much aware of a major dispute between the Labor party and the conservatives, which is very disconcerting,” he said. 

“I’m really concerned that staff are being affected by the toxic nature of the councillors.

“They didn’t make it clear to me the reasons for doing it. I think they’re scared.”

It comes after council voted to rescind a Mayoral Minute to support a NSW Public Libraries’ campaign lobbying the state government for funding. 

Mr Brown has been an outspoken critic of that decision, saying not supporting the campaign appeared to downplay the role that libraries had in communities.

He said the rescission was what spurred him into wanting to write a weekly library column.

“I thought if council could not see its way clear, I felt an obligation upon myself as a former journalist to promote the library,” he said.

“But apparently this is not acceptable.”

But deputy mayor Mitchell Griffin denied claims of a toxic culture on council.

“Just because councillors have a differing point of view, doesn’t mean there is a toxic environment. We have a diverse community in Maitland and there have been 13 councillors elected to ensure these differing views get a voice,” he said. 

“There is an expectation from our community for our leaders to display freedom of speech, and not just rubber stamping.”

Mr Brown said leaving the group was very difficult, but he felt he had no choice.

“I really believe in libraries,” he said.

“It’s not something I did without a great deal of thought.”

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