NEWS DESK
Councillors ‘working too hard’ Mike Hast mike@mpnews.com.au THE granting of medical leave to Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor Lynn Bowden last week has sparked claims councillors are under too much pressure and operating in a stressful, unhealthy environment. Last week Cr Bowden was given leave after suffering a health scare that her husband Ron Bowden, a former state MP, says may have been caused by work stress when he spoke to The News last Thursday night. Cr Graham Pittock had earlier told The News that councillors were operating in “an unhealthy environmentâ€? and had too much work. “We’re expected to read vast amounts of information; it’s getting out of hand,â€? he said. The claims may attract cynical responses from the community but councillors have experienced major stress levels in recent times due to: ď Ž Residual bad blood from the brutal aquatic centre debacle that raged for three years with the two factions of council barely able to talk to each other. ď Ž Dumping long-time CEO Michael Kennedy and appointing Carl Cowie, who has retrenched senior managers and started profound changes in the organisation with more to come. Morale among shire staff has been battered by the departure of long-time employees, and councillors have been partly blamed for the rapid change. ď Ž Controversial and divisive major
planning issues such as the Arthurs Seat gondola chairlift – which was decided by just one vote last year – and RACV’s proposed resort at Cape Schanck, which councillors refused to vote on, fearing they would be charged with conflict of interest as some were members of the RACV Club. Rumours about Cr Bowden have been swirling around for months after the Bowdens bought a holiday house in Perth but the claim that she had been “commuting� between the peninsula and Perth was scotched by Mr Bowden late last week. “We spent three weeks in Perth in late January before the council resumed after the summer break and have not been back since and have no plans to return,� he said. “My wife has had two serious chest infections since then, which included a stay at Frankston Hospital.� He said she was a lifelong asthmatic. Mr Bowden said Cr Bowden had been working very hard – up to 60 hours a week – under pressure. She had become ill recently and doctors thought she had suffered a small stroke but test revealed this was not the case but her condition remained undiagnosed and more tests were being done. “She is her normal self; bright and alert, walking and talking but has been advised to take it easy so the symptoms do not return,� he said. Mr Bowden said councillors had an abnormally high work load in recent times.
“Watson Ward residents can direct inquiries to 5950 1428 or via email councillor.support@mornpen.vic.gov. au during Cr Bowden’s absence. Nepean Ward councillor Hugh Fraser is also available to assist Watson Ward residents and ratepayers during this period.� With David Harrison
missed two meetings, in May and July. For one she was in Canberra for a local government conference. On Friday afternoon, the shire announced on its website that Cr Bowden had been granted leave of absence “from August 10 until October 10 due to medical reasons�.
Miss four in a row and you’re out Break: Cr Lynn Bowden is on leave after a health scare. Picture supplied
Cr Bowden has missed seven of the past 14 council meetings including two at the start of the year, two in April, and three between mid-July and last week when she was ill and spent several days in Frankston Hospital. Cr Pittock has missed three meetings this year, two in March and one in May when he was on holidays interstate or overseas. The Dromana resident recently represented the shire in Ireland at his own expense when he visited Dromana House in County Waterford for the 800th anniversary, keeping alive the loose connection between the two Dromanas. Councillors Andrew Dixon, Hugh Fraser, Tim Wood, David Gibb and Anne Shaw have all missed one meeting this year, mostly through illness, and the mayor Cr Bev Colomb has
of 11 so-called ordinary council meetings (OCMs), the main meeting of councils. He blamed illness for missing most but said he chopped the top off a thumb with a power saw, which caused him to miss one OCM. Three years ago Pinar Yesil, a Greater Dandenong councillor and Victoria’s first Muslim mayor (200809), was booted off the council after missing four consecutive meetings when she was in Turkey for more than a month dealing with “urgent family health issues� and had not obtained formal leave of absence. Ms Yesil migrated to Australia from Turkey as a teenager and was a rising star in the ALP. Ironically, during her term as mayor, Ms Yesil implemented a charter to make councillors more accountable to the community by publishing monthly expenses and attendance reports online. Mike Hast
MOST Victorian councillors are diligent and attend dozens of meetings and briefings each year. Our elected representatives are required by law to not miss four council meetings in a row unless they have obtained formal leave of absence, which can be approved by their colleagues in cases such as illness or injury. The shire council has had a good attendance record in recent years although recent absences have seen more councillors missing meetings than usual. In late 2013, former Red Hill Ward councillor Frank Martin took extended leave because of illness. He was absent for more than six months before resigning and forcing a by-election last August when retired County Court judge Tim Wood was elected. Further afield, Kingston councillor John Ronke, an 18-year council veteran, attended nine of 21 meetings last year including four
Bands into battle
Nabbed in the loo A SUSPECTED burglar hid from police in a Rosebud foreshore toilet block on Tuesday before being arrested. The man, 26, of Rosebud, was wanted for allegedly forcing his way into the Rye home of an elderly couple, Friday 7 August, claiming he was looking for a lost dog. Police say he grabbed an 80-yearold woman by the throat and forced her back into the hallway, but fled when the woman’s husband came to her aid. Detective Sergeant John Coburn, of Rosebud CIU, said police spotted the man outside a Rosebud supermarket and gave chase as he cycled across Pt Nepean Rd and onto the beach. After a short struggle, in which the man was pepper sprayed, he was arrested and charged with aggravated burglary. He has been remanded to appear at Frankston Magistrates’ Court on 25 August.
IMPAKT Productions and Mornington Peninsula Shire are putting on the 2015 Freeza Push Start Battle of the Bands, Friday 21 August, Peninsula Community Theatre. Local bands The Illusionals, The Elements, Jebusology, LuVibe, End Hope, Break the Lines and Shmegma have been selected to compete, with the winners having the chance to compete in the regional finals as well as win prizes. Headlining the event is Aussie pop punk band Day Break. Other contestants will be advertised on the Mornington Peninsula Shire Youth Services website, mpys. com.au<http://www.mpys.com.au>. The event runs 6-10.45pm. Tickets at $10 will be at the door on the night. The bands could be the next big things on the peninsulaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s music scene. Radio station 98.7 FM will broadcast the event on local community radio. The event is a fully supervised with no drugs, smoking or alcohol and no pass outs. Details: Jackie Rickard at Mornington Peninsula Shire, 5950 1666, or Facebook.com/impaktfreeza.
Breaking out: Pop punk band Day Break will headline the 2015 Freeza Push Start Battle of the Bands at Mornington.
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