Cr Neville confirmed he has been living in Albury since late last year, but has continued to serve on council since.

The former mayor addressed Tuesday night’s council meeting where he asked for clarification on the matter from the relevant legislation.

Acting general manager Phil Harding clarified Cr Neville was eligible to serve on Griffith City Council, despite now living outside the local government area. 

According to the NSW local government act, a person is not disqualified from “holding civic office only because, while holding the civic office, the person ceases to be a resident in the area, to own property in the area or to be an occupier or ratepaying lessee of rateable land in the area”.

Cr Neville told The Area News the to move was made for health reasons. 

“We made a decision based on current and future health needs of myself and my wife. The simple fact of the matter is I'm not doing anything out of the ordinary,” he said. 

"My job is to work for the community, not to be addressing rumours every five minutes … I attend all my council meetings and at the end of the day, is Griffith disadvantaged by my not living there? 

“I'll still do my civic functions.” 

He has served on council since 1999, including a term as Griffith’s first popularly elected mayor.

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He also confirmed he would not re-contest a council seat at the next election. 

“It’s a privilege for us to serve on council,” he said. 

Cr Neville said he asked for the clarification because he didn’t want any misinformation to spread. 

“It’s imperative for a few people in the community who have interest social media to push have certain agendas … It doesn’t mean I diminish the job and the role that I see, I was elected to do,” he said. 

“Hopefully the people who chose to listen to the tape or read on social media might read the act themselves.”