Cr Vicki Coltman said she is “really disappointed” with a flyer that was doing the rounds on Tuesday threatening to vote the entire council chamber out in 2016 if they choose to reappoint Anthony Schinck during the in camera decision.

“People can have a point of view, but some of these people mounting this campaign are taking a cowardly approach,” she said.

“They are a group of certain people who haven't got their way with council in the past and are making personal attacks.”

Council has been heavily criticised – including by former mayors – for its community consultation process in regards to the CEO’s contract, while the Ballarat Residents and Ratepayers' Association ran an advertising campaign in The Courier urging the role be advertised.

It is unclear who was behind this week’s flyer.

Ballarat mayor John Philips said under the Local Government Act, councillors are unable to cast their vote in the public eye.

“We have followed the Act to the detail, making sure we are abiding by all of the components,” he said.

“I certainly understand their concerns about it.

“This is one of the most important contracts Ballarat councillors have to deal with.

“Certainly hearing from the community is important and I have offered them the opportunity to ring or sit down and have a chat.

“I speak everyday with people on the CEO's contract. I am hearing from quite a lot of people and different points of view.”

In July council made known its intention to reappoint Mr Schinck, despite mounting pressure to advertise the position.

Cr Samantha McIntosh said the community just wants to be heard.

“We are making decisions on behalf of the community and I do think that process should be as open and transparent as possible,” she said.

“Given they can't come into the chamber and speak, maybe they feel this is a way of being heard.”

Cr Jim Rinaldi said he understood why there was frustration in some sectors of the community, but under Section 89 of the Local Government Act it was out of council’s control.

“Somewhere in this process there should have been an opportunity to have a say,” he said.

“When people feel council isn’t listening, the only action left is by the ballot box.”

Cr Glen Crompton and Cr Belinda Coates both agreed that it was a “free society” for members of the public to voice their opinion, while Cr Des Hudson said it is “anyone's democratic right to run for council during election”.

Deputy mayor Peter Innes said he also wouldn’t be threatened by the campaign to oust councillors at the polls if Mr Schinck’s contract is renewed.

“I am not afraid of any group saying anything like that, 2016 is a long way away,” Cr Innes said.

“My primary aim is to do what is best for Ballarat, whether that means a reappointment or going out to the open. People can threaten all they want, it doesn't faze me in the slightest.

Cr Innes said he expected discussions to be “fairly robust” before the vote is cast.

Cr Amy Johnson didn’t return calls.