Corporation of Hamilton members are planning to put forward a resolution urging the Mayor to resign, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

Common councillor Graeme Outerbridge told this newspaper last night that secret talks were taking place between some members about how to get Sutherland Madeiros to step down.

He said members had no power to force the under-fire Mayor's resignation but it was hoped that he would do the decent thing as "there is basically no confidence in him". He would not say how many members were involved in the private talks.

Mr. Outerbridge added that the Mayor's handling of recent industrial action by workers was one example of his inability to do the job. "There is a laundry list," he said.

"He has been actively undermining members and it's got to an all-time low."

Mr. Madeiros would not comment when contacted by this newspaper. But he alleged to ZBM television news that "disgruntled members" of the Corporation had a "personal vendetta" against him.

Asked on the station's 7 p.m. bulletin yesterday if Corporation members had put forward a motion for his resignation, he replied: "This is the first I have heard of it, they must have done it in my absence. No motion has been put forward as far as I know.

"There are one or two disgruntled members though. They have been that way since 2006, people who have a personal vendetta against me."

David Dunkley, one of the Corporation's three aldermen, told The Royal Gazette he took exception to the Mayor's "unfounded" claim and said he had lost confidence in Mr. Madeiros.

Mr. Dunkley said: "I take exMr. Dunkley said: "I take exception to him making these remarks. They are unfounded. They are not true. It is not right what the Mayor is saying."He pointed out that in 2006 six members himself, Mr. Outerbridge, William Black, W. Carvel Van Putten, George Grundmuller and Courtland Boyle signed a letter demanding his resignation after the results of the election which brought him to power were questioned by his unsuccessful opponent Sonia Grant. Asked if he still had confidence in the Mayor, Mr. Dunkley replied: "No." Asked why, he said: "I think it's quite obvious if you look at what's been happening to the Corporation under his administration."Since the start of the year, the Corporation of Hamilton has had to deal with a walkout by city workers and a public outcry at its decision to evict Bermuda Society of Arts from City Hall.The Corporation has now agreed that its industrial workers can be represented by the Bermuda Industrial Union after a long-running row on the issue. It has also put back the plan to evict the arts society until the end of the year.Mr. Madeiros has been criticised in recent weeks for publicly distancing himself from the BSoA resolution, despite voting for it behind closed doors when he had power to veto the scheme. This newspaper revealed that he has successfully used his veto twice before.Deputy Mayor Mr. Black and common councillor Mr. Grundmuller told this newspaper last night that they were not aware of any proposed resolution regarding the Mayor's position.Mr. Black, an alderman, said: "It is the first I have heard of it as well. It's certainly not true. We had a meeting today and not a thing was said. As far as I'm concerned he is doing a good job." He added: "We have got some problems with the Corporation. We are not happy with the way it's been run. He (the Mayor) was voted in and I have to support him."Mr. Black revealed that the furore sparked by the BSoA decision was a surprise. "We didn't expect the outrage that has taken place over it," he said. "I was rather surprised. The Corporation has got a lot of bad publicity. The Bermuda Society of Arts has got a lot of free publicity. I think it's going to bring a lot of people into the BSoA."He said that like the Mayor he wished he had voted against the plan though unlike Mr. Madeiros he could not have prevented the resolution from being passed on his own. Mr. Grundmuller would not say if he still supported the Mayor. "I'm not going to comment about anything, I don't think it does any good," he said.Common councillor Kathryn Gibbons would not comment on whether she was still confident in the Mayor. "I would have to say that there are many members who are concerned about the leadership of the Corporation and the management of the city," she said.Alderman Courtland Boyle and common councillors Mr. Van Putten and Pamela Ferreira could not be contacted last night.