RATEPAYERS’ money will go to a lobby group pushing for more federal and state funding for Frankston. A 5-1 majority of councillors at the 14 May public council meeting agreed council should join the Committee for Greater Frankston, a self-described “visionary politically independent think tank that advocates to all levels of government for a better deal for the Frankston region”. The committee will receive $10,000 from council each year. Committee for Greater Frankston membership is split into three tiers according to its website: ‘Corporate Sapphire ($3000), ‘Corporate Gold ($7000) and ‘Corporate Diamond’ ($10,000). Schools can pay $2000 a year and individuals…
Author: Neil Walker
CONSULTANTS have visited Frankston Council alongside the municipal monitor brought in last year to help councillors get along with each other and ratepayers will foot the bill. Former Carlton Football Club chairman Michael Malouf, also a former CEO at several councils, hosted a two-and-a-half-hour governance workshop for councillors last month. When asked by The Times, council CEO Dennis Hovenden confirmed Mr Malouf’s management consultant business has been hired by council. “The municipal monitor recommended that the councillors hold a governance development workshop. This workshop focused on procedures and behaviours which support good governance,” Mr Hovenden said in a statement. “Malouf Management Services Pty…
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire council has lodged objections to boundary changes to the Dunkley electorate that would see Mornington and the northern part of Baxter move into the Flinders electorate. Shire mayor Cr Bryan Payne wrote to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) on 4 May to voice concerns about proposed electorate boundary changes to both Dunkley and Flinders. “In particular, we are concerned about the separation of Mount Eliza from the neighbouring township of Mornington,” Cr Payne stated in a letter to the AEC. “Mount Eliza benefits from being part of the same federal electorate as the township of Mornington, which…
A SEAFORD family feels like it won the lottery in this month’s federal budget but “the win” has nothing to do with putting cash into their hip pocket. The Clarke family is rapt that daughter Ally, 10, has “a second chance at life” thanks to a federal government decision to add a drug treatment for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison announced that Spinraza will be available on the PBS. It would otherwise cost families more than $365,000 each year. Ally’s mother Georgia Clarke told The Times last year the drug is financially out…
SELFLESS people who pitch in for the good of the community deserve a pat on the back during National Volunteer Week from 21-27 May. The mayor Cr Colin Hampton publicly thanked volunteers across Frankston at the latest council meeting on 14 May. “They’re special people in our community,” Cr Hampton said. “It’s a heartfelt thank you to all our wonderful volunteers in Frankston city and across our region.” The mayor said about 17,000 volunteers contribute more than 40,000 hours collectively each year to community causes and this is equivalent to more than $1.2 million in donations. “Volunteers play an integral…