The ’toxic’ atmosphere at a village’s town hall has prompted two commissioners to resign.

Ian Skelly and Andy Phair criticised the behaviour of certain fellow local politicians at Port St Mary Commissioners.

And they said their decision to quit had also been prompted by the recent inquiry into reducing the board from nine to five members - and the ruling, upheld by Tynwald, that it be reduced only to seven.

Mr Skelly wrote that his resignation followed ’Tynwald overturning a democratic vote and accepting the recommendations from a public inquiry with those giving evidence being one member of the public and three sitting commissioners who were opposed to the reduction to five members from the start.’

He added: ’I am not prepared to sit on a board operating in such a toxic environment with certain members continuously trying to undermine the chair and the constant accusations of cliques and the seemingly paranoid conspiracy theories that abound.

’The Local Government Unit needs to get a grip on Port St Mary with an independent inquiry into members’ values and behaviour.

’At our last meeting Mr Phair left due to an outburst directed at him which happened in full view of a member of the public sitting in on our open session. After the meeting I personally felt the need to apologise to the person concerned for the unacceptable behaviour they had witnessed.

’The constant attacks on Mr Phair have been going on since before he was elected.

’In my opinion, he has brought a much needed professionalism to the board as has newly elected Mr McGregor Edwards. 

’Having seen how Port St Mary have operated I think the time has come to consider one southern authority board to put an end to silo thinking and personal agendas.’ 

Mr Phair wrote to board chairman Michelle Haywood: ’There have been many instances of behaviour by a small number of board members which I believe to have been detrimental to the board’s standing with the public, its staff, and its ability for effective decision making.

’These include but are not limited to threats of legal action being made against the board; unfounded and unsubstantiated accusations leading to a police investigation; continuing personal attacks on members and their integrity; and many (unsuccessful) attempts to undermine your authority as chairman.

’The atmosphere which I view as being intentionally created is one of aggression and conflict and provides for a toxic environment and divert the board’s time and energy away from dealing with real issues.’

He added: ’Despite your constant efforts as chairman to maintain civil and respectful debate, I believe that the current members’ behaviours are likely to continue and therefore my continued presence on the board is likely to be unproductive.’

Mr Phair said the lack of justification in Tynwald overruling the proposed board reduction was ’unsatisfactory’.

’Unfortunately by deciding that compromise was needed in favour of a small but vocal minority of the board who have sought to undermine the board’s decisions, the result is an outcome that has no real benefits to the authority, and one that the majority of the board did not want,’ he said.

Both paid tribute to Dr Haywood’s professsionalism in handling the board.