THE Mahogany Neighbourhood Centre’s management committee have decided to hand over the keys to Frankston Council and walk away before Christmas.
Council had indicated it would take control of the centre’s operations in August next year after alleged complaints were made against the centre (‘Centre takeover slammed’, The Times 29/9/14).
Council CEO Denis Hovenden said in September that the nature of the complaints was “confidential”.
The centre’s management committee are six unpaid volunteers but committee president Toni Burton said six full-time and part-time staff will lose their jobs as a result of council’s takeover.
Ms Burton said the committee were still none the wiser about the nature of the complaints allegation, saying council had declined to provide details.
The decision was made to hand over management of the centre to council at the end of this month rather than next August.
“Why prolong it? We didn’t see the sense in waiting until then,” Ms Burton said.
Social support worker Cheryl Billing Smith, a former Frankston Council community worker, has been teaching patchwork and sewing at the Mahogany Neighbourhood Centre for the past seven years.
She contacted The Times to praise “the professional team” at the centre.
Ms Billing Smith said the council cancellation of the Mahogany Neighbourhood Centre’s contract “is devastating”.
“What is to become of the good work that the coordinator Jenni Sheedy has done over the decades? Her understanding of the needs of the local community are second to none and along with her fellow coordinator Lindsay Jackell they are the best in the business and they have surrounded themselves with a trusty team of committed workers in child care and in the office.”
Deputy Frankston mayor Cr Glenn Aitken, whose North West Ward includes Frankston North, said council wants “the centre to work to its fullest potential”.
“The current committee has done a very good job of managing the centre to the best of its resources,” he said.
“We’re certainly looking at injecting a wide range of activities into the centre and the people of Frankston North are set to benefit.”
Cr Aitken said the Frankston North community “clearly have diverse needs” and providing wide access to programs at the centre may be “beyond a small committee to govern”.
The centre’s staff hosted a farewell party last Friday and will close the doors for the final time under the existing management on Friday 19 December.
Cr Aitken said council is ready to step in and ensure the centre is open to the community after the Christmas and New Year break.
