Incorporating the Nagambie Times and Violet Town Sentinel
AVENEL - EUROA - LONGWOOD - NAGAMBIE - STRATHBOGIE - VIOLET TOWN Phone: (03) 5795 3041
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
www.euroagazette.com.au
Disappointed but optimistic: Binks
$1.50 (inc.GST)
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Council pulls pin on Oz Day
Mayor shares thoughts about council and monitor
CALEB NEEDS YOUR HELP: Two-year-old Caleb, pictured with his big sister Ella, has cerebral palsy and an epic fundraising event on Sunday named Caleb’s Family Fun Day will raise funds for his family to buy a disability-friendly vehicle. Full story on page 3. PHOTO: Darren Chaitman
STRATHBOGIE Shire Council Mayor Laura Binks has spoken about the appointment of a second municipal monitor to the council, saying she is disappointed, but optimistic improvements will come as a result. The appointment of Peter Stephenson was announced by the State Government on Tuesday, May 15, less than a year after municipal monitor Janet Dore ended her term at the council. In a letter addressed to Mayor Binks on the same day, Minister for Local Government Melissa Horne wrote she had “serious concerns with ongoing conduct and governance issues at the council”. “This is despite the council having had the benefit of an experienced municipal monitor for 12 months at a cost to the ratepayers of Strathbogie,” Ms Horne wrote. Cr Binks told The Euroa Gazette she shares Ms Horne’s concerns. “I share the minister’s concerns about conduct and governance, and that those two issues are at risk of impacting the function of the shire council,” she said. Minister Horne’s letter also refers to
BY DARREN CHAITMAN dchaitman@ nemedia.com.au
communications with Cr Binks earlier in the year. “I asked the council to provide me with advice by February 28, 2023 about what actions it would take to address the ongoing issues identified by the former municipal monitor, Janet Dore,” the minister wrote. “You note that while the council informally agreed to actions in response to the monitor’s report, you withdrew your notice of motion for the council to formally accept these actions because you considered it ‘disingenuous’ for the council to be voting on it ‘in light of recent matters regarding conduct of councillors’. “It is therefore unclear if the council is implementing the necessary action in response to the issues identified by the monitor. “Further, serious concerns about governance and conduct have been raised with me by councillors, council staff and members of the council’s audit and risk committee. ■ Continued page 2
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Euroa wins Tidy Towns
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Nola Dudley enjoys 80th
Sport
Lakers flex muscles
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