A statement from the council after Tuesday night's decision only indicated he would take "a well-deserved break before moving on to other opportunities".

Also a mystery is the amount Mr Styles will leave with - he earned $328,618 in the 2017-18 financial year, but the council declined to comment on how long was left on his contract.

Councillors voted to keep the final payout confidential and the Central Western Daily understands even they remain unaware of the size of the package.

Mr Styles, who could not be reached for comment on Wednesday, was on leave and did not attend.

Councillors discussed the matter twice on the night - councillor Glenn Taylor rose before usual proceedings to query why he and colleagues Jeff Whitton and Jason Hamling had heard the news Mr Styles had tendered his resignation from councillor Kevin Duffy and not the council.

"None of these councillors have been notified about this issue," he said.

"This is the most disgraceful effort I've seen in 23 years in this council."

The public was then temporarily dismissed from the chamber while the matter was discussed.

Formal deliberations in closed proceedings later in the night took more than an hour before the decision was read out to the public.

Deputy mayor Sam Romano was in Mudgee on Tuesday night and saw the news in the media on Wednesday morning.

"I'm only the deputy mayor, if I was the mayor I would expect to be told, but I was shocked," he said.

Mr Styles' employment will officially end at the close of business on Friday, with development services director David Waddell to serve as acting general manager until a replacement is found.

The council's statement credited Mr Styles with presiding over "generational" projects, including the Macquarie River pipeline, the aquatic centre, Sir Neville Howse Stadium and the museum.

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