Redlands resident Todd Reinke made an official complaint to the council, claiming Division 5 councillor Barbara Townsend had made "the 'L' shape" to him at the Division 4 by-election debate hosted by the Bayside Bulletin at Victoria Point Sharks Sports Club in May.

He said he was not seeking an apology, but that Cr Townsend's personal views toward him prevent her from voting on the development applications he has before council for Russell Island under Canaipa Developments.

"I was told to put it in writing and now I'm satisfied that I've made my position clear if it comes up again in the future," he said this week, after the complaint was dismissed.

Mr Reinke listed Councillor John Burns and former councillor Alan Barker and their wives as witnesses to the incident. Both said there was nothing said or done to provoke Cr Townsend.

Cr Townsend told the council's senior internal auditor that she "couldn't recall" making the gesture to Mr Reinke, and that she "didn't realise he was there".

Cr Townsend was absent from the chamber discussion, chaired by Mayor Melva Hobson, who had to reprimand Crs Craig Ogilvie and Debra Henry for demonstrating the gesture.

Councillors resolved to take no further action on the issue, with the council report indicating that, even if true, the action was not enough to substantiate a conflict of interest.