NEWS DESK
Letter questioned, press slammed Neil Walker neil@baysidenews.com.au THE fallout from a councillor conduct panel hearing shows no sign of ending. Cr Colin Hampton, who was ordered by the panel to formally apologise to two council employees about the way he spoke to them at a public event, has signalled his intention to complain to the Press Council about press coverage of the saga. The deputy mayor tabled letters of apology at this month’s public council meeting to the two council officers who complained about his behaviour at a function to promote the $80 million Allure Bayside apartment project at The Deck bar in Frankston in November last year and also spoke about
circumstances surrounding the panel hearing. Cr Hampton claimed at this month’s council meeting that Cr Darrel Taylor was involved in the drafting a separate letter of complaint from developer Jacques Khouri about Cr Hampton. Excerpts of the letter were published in another community newspaper, prompting Cr Hampton’s complaint to the Press Council. The panel members, barrister Peter Harris and Municipal Association of Victoria governance member Matt Evans, noted evidence given by Frankston Council CEO Dennis Hovenden at the April hearing, convened by the Municipal Association of Victoria. “In a meeting with Mr Hovenden, Jacques Khouri had stated that he advised Cr Taylor to talk with his per-
sonal assistant about the events, and that a letter would be drafted in terms proposed by Cr Taylor,” the panel report said. Frankston mayor Cr James Dooley revealed at last month’s public council meeting that notes he and Mr Hovenden took at a December meeting with Mr Khouri after the November function have been referred to “an appropriate authority”, understood to be the Local Government Inspectorate and Compliance Institute. Cr Taylor denied any involvement in Jacques Khouri’s letter of complaint at this month’s council meeting. “There has been substantial evidence presented to this council and circulated by the CEO and sent to the Local Government Inspectorate clearly highlighting I had no involvement in
drafting the letter,” Cr Taylor said at the meeting. Mr Khouri did not return calls from The Times. It is understood he believed the disciplinary matter would be dealt with internally by council and does not wish to fuel any negative publicity that could affect the Allure Bayside project. Cr Taylor found it “astonishing” that council has failed to condemn Cr Hampton’s “intimidatory and bullying behaviour towards two council [staff] members”. “No one is going to stand up and say this behaviour is not good enough from a councillor or deputy mayor.” He said there had been a campaign to “get Taylor” amid false accusations of links between him and the developer. “I find it absolutely incredible that out of this process there’s been a deter-
mination to smear my name and drag me down when I had witnessed what I would call totally inappropriate behaviour and reported it.” At the latest public council meeting, Cr Hampton said the independent conduct panel hearing cost ratepayers $30,000. Council CEO Dennis Hovenden told councillors in June that the panel hearing cost $15,000 plus council officers’ time. Councillors voted to make the report public (‘Conduct panel report released’, The Times 4/7/16) but the version made available on council’s website includes several redactions including Mr Khouri’s name being omitted despite councillors openly speaking about the developer’s letter of complaint at public council meetings.
Councillors on exit brink
Back to the 80s: Talia Gordon and Peter-John Moller play classic arcade game Pac-Man at Frankston Youth Central. Pic: Gary Sissons
Old games for young gamers CLASSIC arcade games are back at Frankston Council’s Youth Services hangout at Playne St thanks to the installation of six machines built by Envision Employment Services’ Work for the Dole participants. Retro games of the 1980s including Space Invaders and Pac-Man can now be played and enjoyed by young visitors to the hangout next to Frankston Library. Envision Employment Services’ Gina Hatzopoulos said it took participants, led by “dynamic duo” Joe and Garryck six months to build the machines. “The Envision staff and participants have been able to
produce some beautifully crafted and decorated units, designed to amuse, entertain and engage local youth. “This is a great example of a community project that benefits local jobseekers, young people and the wider community.” Envision Employment Services is a Seaford-based not-for-profit organisation that helps disadvantaged and disabled people find work through job placements and projects. See frankston.vic.gov.au for details of Frankston Youth Services activities and locations.
Continued from Page 1 The inspectorate also refused to comment about Frankston’s apparent clerical error when completing the amended code of conduct documentation. Inspectorate chief municipal inspector David Wolf said: “The Local Government Investigations and Compliance Inspectorate is the integrity agency for local government in Victoria. “The inspectorate is currently assessing all 79 Victorian councils for compliance with the councillor code of conduct requirements following recent amendments to the legislation. “We expect to complete this analysis by 12 August and it is not appropriate to comment on specific cases until this analysis is complete. “The inspectorate will follow a process to communicate the finding to councils, councillors and the community.” Frankston’s municipal neighbours, Kingston Council and Mornington Peninsula Shire, ensured all councillors’ signatures were witnessed by councils’ respective CEOs. Some councillors elsewhere, including mayor Cr Graham Pittock at neighbouring Mornington Peninsula Shire, say they did not agree with some of the conduct code changes but believed they had no choice but to sign before the deadline. It is now an offence for councillors to “malign or criticise” each other “for the manner in which they exercise their vote in council”. One shire councillor, who did not
want to be named for fear of contravening the code, said that particular rule was “unbelievable … it is just appalling … I couldn’t believe it was happening”. The councillor said the code “is shutting down debate and transparency”. Despite being stood down, any councillors disqualified from council duties from 1 September for not signing the revised code of conduct will be able to nominate to stand as candidates in council elections held on 22 October. -- with Keith Platt
Gateway secured THE police operation Secure Gateway on Frankston-Dandenong Rd, Carrum Downs, last week resulted in arrests for a variety of traffic and criminal offences. Senior Sergeant Justin Watson, of Frankston police, said 16 officers from the Shadow taskforce, highway patrol and CIU, made five arrests for possession of drugs, theft of motor cars and assault, in the operation on Friday and Saturday nights, 29-30 July. Police made another five arrests for outstanding warrants and other matters, such as driving stolen cars. He said seven vehicles were impounded and a further 23 drivers fined for various traffic offences. “Police will be holding more targeted operations based on our intelligence at various locations in coming weeks.”
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Hospitality I Compassion I Respect I Justice I Excellence Frankston Times
8 August 2016
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