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Tuesday 14 June 2022
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Competing for the state MOUNT Eliza North Primary School student Ella Seaburgh will compete in the School Sport Australia Championship as part of the 11 to 19 years and under Victorian team in Queensland in September. The 12-year-old participated in a structured trial process to be selected for the aquathon/triathlon. She is dedicated to her sport, competing as a nipper every summer at Mornington Life Saving Club, training in open swimming, boarding and beach running. During winter she continues with her swimming (in the pool) and running and plays netball and football. Ella is hoping to raise around $2000 for the trip, which includes host state competition fees, insurance, team photo and administration charges. School Sport Victoria and the Australian Sports Foundation has provided team members with a tax-deductible crowd funding platform at asf.org.au/our-athletes/ Picture: Gary Sissons
Councillor sent to arbitration again Brodie Cowburn brodie@baysidenews.com.au A FRANKSTON councillor could be sent to arbitration to fight misconduct allegations for the second time in two years. An arbitration process has been initiated between Frankston Council and Cr Steven Hughes. The application was made after seven other councillors signed a written dispute statement alleging he had engaged in miscon-
duct. The Times asked Frankston Council for the specifics of the allegations. Council CEO Phil Cantillon said “information relating to an internal arbitration process, other than the arbiter’s finding and reasons, is confidential information in accordance with Section 145 of the Local Government Act 2020. On this basis, it would be inappropriate for council to provide further comment at this time.” All councillors with the exception of Hughes and his son Cr Liam Hughes
signed the written dispute statement. Those councillors voted to apply for arbitration at their last public meeting, but did not publicly disclose the details of the allegations being made. One signatory to the statement, Cr Kris Bolam, said at the meeting that the allegations consisted of “a number of issues that range from behaviour towards councillors, behaviour towards staff, and behaviours towards the community”. Just last year, Steven Hughes was suspended for a month after the com-
pletion of a separate arbitration process. Hughes was hauled into arbitration after making a series of social media posts comparing council’s local laws to those in the Soviet Union and North Korea (“Rebel councillor suspended over Facebook posts” The Times 31/8/21). At the last council meeting Steven Hughes told councillors he believed the alleged misconduct related to an April meeting which was largely focused on the proposed Frankston Toy Library funding cut. Hughes has been
opposed to council’s plans to cut the toy library’s grant funding. Hughes told The Times last week that he is “unable to speak about the items brought against me due to the confidential nature of the proceedings. However, I will say that there is a significant difference between how I view my obligations as a representative of the Frankston people, such as fighting for rate reduction and community group support, and some of the other councillors’ views.” Continued page 5