The Corporation of Hamilton was deeply divided and unable to work together at the start of 2008, according to previously unpublished minutes from closed-door meetings.

Alderman Courtland Boyle — now the Deputy Mayor — told fellow members on January 8 that what was happening at City Hall was "deplorable" and that the municipality should be working together and focusing on the real issues affecting the City instead of arguing.

And Mayor Sutherland Madeiros admitted this week: "It was very difficult to get a consensus."

He said the Corporation now had some new members and most people wanted to make it work.

Mr. Boyle's comments — revealed in "restricted circulation" minutes given to The Royal Gazette by former Common Councillor Graeme Outerbridge — came as members discussed a complaint about the eligibility of Mr. Outerbridge and Alderman David Dunkley to serve.

That complaint was initially put in writing by Mayor Sutherland Madeiros on January 4 at the prompting of then-Deputy Mayor William Black.

Mr. Madeiros withdrew his letter and Mr. Black made his own written complaint on January 16 — apparently undeterred by the wrath he incurred from other members at the January 8 meeting for questioning the integrity of his two colleagues.

Mr. Outerbridge and Mr. Dunkley alleged at the meeting, according to the minutes, that he launched a "mendacious" personal attack on them.

Councillor Kathryn Gibbons also spoke of her outrage that Mr. Black had gone to speak to Mr. Outerbridge's landlord to ascertain whether he was properly registered on the voters' list.

"She would have lodged civil charges," note the minutes.

Mrs. Gibbons said she understood calls had also been made to Mr. Dunkley's landlord before Mr. Madeiros' letter was sent to the Corporation Secretary.

"It was a most personal attack," the minutes quote her as saying. "This was not the way to go about it.

"There was a great deal of gossip in the community about what goes on at the Corporation of Hamilton."

The minutes quote Mr. Boyle as agreeing that the complaints about the members were personal attacks.

He said the "whole Corporation was divided" and "members had not worked as a unit since day one".

"He would not go after another member," the minutes quote Mr. Boyle as saying. "It was a shame that the Corporation could not move on."

Mr. Black has always maintained that he made the complaint because taxpayers raised the issue with him.

He told this newspaper again last week that it was not a personal attack.

Minutes from a January 15 meeting quote former Secretary Kelly Miller as saying that Mr. Black wanted Police to investigate the two men's eligibility.

The Mayor withdrew his complaint at that meeting and the minutes also show that a lawyer told members the eligibility issue should be decided by the Supreme Court — advice which the Corporation has not followed.

Mr. Outerbridge resigned his seat in May before it was determined by the Secretary whether he was eligible to stand; he failed in a bid to get reelected last month.

Mr. Dunkley was found to be ineligible but is appealing the decision.

Ironically, Mr. Black was himself forced to step down from the Corporation at the start of last month after Ms Miller uncovered historic defects in his registration details on the voters' list.

The leaked minutes show that Mr. Outerbridge alleged on January 8 that Mr. Black's complaint about him came after he questioned the latter's honesty regarding a payment of more than $6,000 for legal advice on how to get rid of Ms Miller.

Minutes from that meeting and a December 18 meeting last year note that the treasurer explained to members that the advice from Mello Jones Martin was requested by then Mayor Jay Bluck and two aldermen.

Mr. Outerbridge told this newspaper Mr. Black was one of the Aldermen who approved that expenditure — a claim denied by Mr. Black who said he knew nothing about the payment and could not recall authorising it.

Ms Miller left the municipality last month — though it has not been revealed whether she resigned or was sacked.