“We’re at a stalemate until we get consultation with Harden again,” Cootamundra mayor Jim Slattery said.

At a meeting between Cootamundra and Harden council representatives in February it was determined there’s enough commonality and a reasonable possibility of a successful merger to justify a formal investigation of a possible merger.

“We’ve got their books, they’ve got our books, hopefully something will come out of it,” Cr Slattery said.

Meanwhile, Harden Council has been discussing the feasibility of a three-way merger with Boorowa and Young.

Cr Slattery, Cr Stephen Doidge and Cr Rod Chalmers attended a public consultation in Young on Tuesday night where representatives from Boorowa, Young and Harden discussed the merge.

Cootamundra residents have said they would like a similar consultation held in town to shed light on the merge and give them the opportunity to provide feedback.

A local resident called the Cootamundra Herald earlier in the week, concerned that Cootamundra Council has “left the residents in the dark” about future merger.

“I feel that if other councils are sitting down and talking to ratepayers about amalgamations then surely our Council can do the same for us,” she said.

“It’s going to be our livelihood that’s affected.”

However Council’s general manager Ken Trethewey said community consultation is out of the question at this stage.

"Young, Harden and Boorowa are in a different position to us, having spent $50,000 and the last nine months amassing the type of information that we are presently putting together,” he said.

“They are in a position to speak with their communities with some factual information to temper the imagined result of a merger.

“We are not advanced enough in our discussion with Harden to discuss facts with the community yet.”

Council will hear from Harden by April 30, Mr Trethewey has promised that when both councils are fully convinced a merger is viable they will hold a variety of consultations. 

Residents will then be asked for their opinion once the facts can be made available.