Cr Jo Dodds was called "neurotic" and told she "sounded like a lunatic" by Cr Mitchell Nadin after she asked the mayor Russell Fitzpatrick to ensure councillors were wearing masks, something acting CEO Anthony McMahon said applied to the chamber under the current health orders.

Cr Dodds said she had lodged a Code of Conduct complaint against Cr Nadin.

"I don't do it lightly because I know it costs, but if no-one does it, nothing changes," Cr Dodds said.

"Also as I work in mental health it's my role to uphold the dignity of people who experience mental illness. The use of terms which denigrate people with mental illness is equal in offensiveness to the sexism on display," Cr Dodds said of Cr Nadin's mocking impersonation of her.

"This was about the safety of all in the room," she said of the mask wearing.

But Cr Nadin claimed that Cr Dodds' interjection over mask wearing provoked the heated exchange.

"She calls everyone out on their behaviour but does exactly the same herself," Cr Nadin said.

He also said a Code of Conduct complaint was "just another waste of money".

Cr Dodds said the behaviour during council meetings had left her "feeling exhausted" and had meant "energy has gone into dealing with bullying to the detriment of the shire".

She said it also meant a reluctance to speak on some contentious issues for fear of a potential aggressive response.

Cr Dodds said she was not standing for re-election at the local government elections on December 4 and that the experience of this term of council had influenced her decision.

"It has been too detrimental to my health for me to stand again," Cr Dodds said.

There are no workplace rules in politics. There are rules around meeting practise and codes of conduct, but with no ultimate sanctions, it can be difficult to enforce and councillors can simply refuse to apologise or withdraw offensive remarks, even when asked by the mayor or whoever is running the meeting.

"In any other setting, these behaviours would have resulted in dismissal," Cr Dodds said.

She said she had spoken to mayor Russell Fitzpatrick and previous mayor Kristy McBain who have said they would talk to councillors about their behaviour.

"If they have done that, clearly it hasn't worked," Cr Dodds said.