LETTERS
Letters - 300 words maximum and including full name, address and contact number - can be sent to The News, PO Box 588, Hastings 3915 or emailed to: team@mpnews.com.au
Unnecessary rush to increase allowances The Mornington Peninsula Shire Council is a disgrace and an embarrassment. Despite many pressing matters, last Monday night (5 September) a quite unnecessary special council meeting was held to increase councillors’ expenses allowance. What was the rush? The expenses were the subject of three consecutive council meetings. Answer: the dominant council group were desperate to pass the new allowances policy before the 22 October council election. The outcome: another $10,000 was added to councillors’ existing expenses entitlements, potentially costing ratepayers another $110,000 over the next four-year council term. It is now estimated that the total four-year cost to ratepayers of councillors’ expenses will be in the order of $500,000. Cr Antonella Celi has already declined to return an alleged overspend of around $9000, relying on what barrister Cr Hugh Fraser asserts is “compromised” legal advice that there was no overpayment. By coincidence the claimed overspend is close to the new $10,000 “training” allowance. The previous policy included training within the conferences and seminars policy. Suddenly the cost of training has soared. The increase was supported by Crs David Gibb, Celi, Bev Colomb, David Garnock, Anne Shaw and Andrew Dixon. Those who voted against were Crs Graham Pittock, Tim Wood, Tim Rodgers and Fraser. To be fair, Cr Gibb tried to reduce by $6000 the current $16,000 four-year conferences and seminars allowance. Cr Celi, whose claimed overspend was in that allowance, voted down his amendment. At the previous council meeting, Cr Dixon had voted against the new policy, unhappy with the proposed 66 cents a kilometre allowance for use of his private vehicle. His vote defeated the policy. The expenses policy had now been amended to provide an increase in the vehicle allowance to councillors. Cr Dixon voted for the motion. Alan Nelsen, McCrae
Claims come too late Cr Andrew Dixon levelled an accusation at the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council meeting on Monday 5 September against some fellow councillors during a debate on whether councillors should be allowed to continue to consume alcohol on shire premises. He stated: “This change (to ban consumption of alcohol) has been induced by the behaviour of certain (unnamed) councillors during and after official council meetings and I think this is a travesty.” This followed his earlier comment that “any councillor who seriously believes that elected officials need to sink skin fulls of piss while entertaining officials and diplomats in this day and age is showing how out of touch they are”. If Cr Dixon had any concerns with the behaviour of his fellow councillors then he should have stood by his conviction and made a complaint to the principal conduct officer and requested a hearing by a councillor conduct panel rather than making accusations at a public forum where there is no opportunity to rebuke his assertion that councillors are being affected by alcohol. Cr Dixon has walked out of council meetings when presentations are being made. The latest occasion was on the 22 August when he left the room and then shortly after returning went to the annex to make himself a coffee while the meeting continued. Cr Dixon was elected in 2012 on a platform which included “no costly Rosebud pool and better management of the $38 million debt”. However, he subsequently supported a $40 million pool on the Rosebud foreshore and voted against the motion for a plan to be brought by officers to council for the accelerated reduction in debt to no more than $20 million on or before 30 June 2017. Association members have been regular attendees of council meetings over the past four
years. The observed lack of respect and co-operation between councillors has been appalling. The community is entitled to deserve better and it is hoped that the October municipal election in will see a new group of councillors elected who will work together for the benefit of the peninsula. Doris Campbell, Rosebud, president Mornington Peninsula Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association
Pitch for votes I wholeheartedly agree with “Time to go”; “Need for ethics, honesty” and “Need for caring councillors not company directors” (Letters 6/9/16), therefore I seek election to the Seawinds ward. Transparency and accountability are essential. You, the voter and payer of councillor allowances should receive nothing less. Local council is not only the most accessible level of government but one that impacts upon our daily lives beyond the traditional but vital three Rs of roads, rates and rubbish. I recommend that everyone complete Mornington Peninsula Shire’s “It’s your peninsula 2021” survey before 18 September. Your feedback will set the direction and priorities of your elected representatives for their four-year term. We need increased frequency of the 788 bus service and secure permanent funding for the 887 bus. The natural environment we fiercely maintain and value so much we continue to stay. Others, non locals, have noticed. They want what we have. Which leads to planning. Understanding and respecting our diversity while ensuring appropriate and accessible sustainable services and facilities that are financially affordable. I call it the triple A of decision making. Is it appropriate, accessible and affordable? Jane Clarke, Rosebud
Super impression Visited new supermarket off Nepean Highway, Mornington, last Sunday. Had trouble finding a car park [but] fortunately we had disabled certification for last available park. Entered vast complex and, being unwell, asked staff member for a seat while I waited for the wife to complete her shop. He said, “we don’t provide seating” [so I] tried to explain my problem, [but he was]not interested. Went outside, nowhere outside to rest. Went back inside, other males and some women looking bored, found access to a produce compilation bench, half sat half leant. Shoppers not impressed stood and waited at end check out. Wondered what would happen if someone had a fainting fit or heart attack. Access from highway not easy to negotiate. Left there hoping they are not going to close their other supermarket in Main St shopping complex. Ron O’Toole, Mt Eliza
Lack of candidates We will soon see a dearth of people standing for council who have had little interaction with [Mornington Peninsula Shire] council since the last election. Names are now pooping (sic) up everywhere, most of who have never been heard from before the last couple of months. Where have they been for the past four years? After the last election I contacted all the unsuccessful candidates to set up a working group to address all the issues they stood for. How many were willing to put any time into it? Zero. I am sure we will see some of these names again. What have they been doing for the last four years? The October election is critical to our future and it is important to know what anyone has done to engage the council in the past four years? Also, be aware of those six sitting councillors who almost always vote against collaboration, accountability and transparency. Thankfully we have some of these outrageous votes recorded by division and these people
Official duties: Anne Shaw, who has decided against seeking re-election to Briars ward, helped launch Mornington Croquet Club’s season by running the first hoop. Picture: Gary Sissons
People are the peninsula’s beating heart I would like to thank the community for the privilege to have served as a councillor for the past thirteen and a half years. I have had the great honour of getting to know the heart of the Mornington Peninsula, which is its people, and I wish to pay tribute to those who make it beat, our volunteers. Our CFA, lifesavers, Coast Guard, SES and those who support our sporting clubs by offering their services on committees, the many service and social clubs, our U3A and bushland volunteers. The list of volunteer groups is endless but it's what makes this peninsula a great place to live. I also pay tribute to the individuals who have taken up neighbourhood causes and given the community a voice. I encourage young people to run for council, it's very important that there is good demographic representation, those with families involved in the community through school and sports have a great deal to offer, and it is possible.
I thank my husband Chris and sons John and Lachlan for their support, particularly on the two occasions when I served as mayor. It has been an amazing journey and I am very proud of many fantastic outcomes for the peninsula, the Safety Beach and Bentons Square community centres among my favourites. I look forward to seeing the Mt Martha skatepark built and the Citation Reserve pavilion in the near future. I'm also looking forward to seeing the Skylift (Eagle) take flight [at Arthurs Seat]. It's all a matter of balance, but there needs to be progress! Over the years I have been fortunate to have worked with some fantastic community focussed and effective councillors and very dedicated officers. As I pass the baton on, I really do hope we get a new council focussed on representing the community. Anne Shaw, councillor Briars ward, Mornington Peninsula Shire
could be outed with no fear of defamation. This does not necessarily mean that these candidates are not in earnest, but the issues are more important than putting up your name every four years. For the most part no one really cares until it becomes a NIMBY issue, then all hell breaks loose and everyone becomes an expert on everything. But then try to get them involved in anything but their personal NIMBY issue and
you can forget it. Let’s hope that this election ends with those who really stand for collaboration, accountability, and transparency being elected and not a bunch of hacks trading preferences. All it takes is for the voters to take the time to know the candidates and what they really stand for. Joe Lenzo, Safety Beach Mornington News
13 September 2016
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