Controversial Auburn deputy mayor Salim Mehajer's days appear numbered as his besieged council struggles to fight against an imminent suspension.
Auburn City Council was last week given 14 days to explain why it should not be suspended after the NSW government announced a public inquiry into the western Sydney council.
The councillors voted to formally argue against being suspended at an emergency meeting on Wednesday night but it's understood they failed to discuss why they should avoid the sack.
Councillor Tony Oldfield said he was confident the council would be suspended next week.
"It's timely for the minister to do so because this is the period when the council amalgamations are taking place," he told AAP.
"The sad thing is that the residents are going to be the losers and victims out of this process because who knows how long it will be before they have any representatives."
The inquiry is investigating allegations that some councillors misused their position to benefit themselves or their relatives.
Labor councillor George Campbell said he backed the investigation but urged Local Government Minister Paul Toole to spare innocent councillors.
"If necessary, suspend the council, but if possible suspend only those who are the subject of the inquiry," he told AAP.
"(He) needs to explain why it's not possible to suspend some councillors rather than all."
Mr Oldfield said the council's minority - known as the "poor four" - would put forward a separate submission to Mr Toole, arguing the suspension should apply only to the councillors under investigation.
But a spokesman from the Office of Local Government said legislation "only allows for the suspension of the full council and not individual councillors".
Reports the council would definitely be sacked after its February 5 deadline were presumptuous, he said.
"Auburn Council has a 14-day period to present a case to the minister as to why it is in the public interest they are not suspended, after which the minister will respond," a statement from the spokesman said.
Mr Mehajer rose to fame after his lavish wedding in August last year.
The property developer is dealing with a string of legal battles, including charges of forging electoral documents to rig council elections in 2012.
If the council is stood down and amalgamated, Wednesday's meeting will have been the last in its 68-year history.
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