THE F-word was uttered in the council chamber at the latest public council meeting and it wasn’t “Frankston”.
Cr Rebekah Spelman let an expletive slip during a debate about relaxing beach curfew regulations for dogs.
The councillor immediately apologised for her inadvertent outburst made amid repeated interruptions by some fellow councillors during her speech about the beach curfew.
Cr Spelman has proposed a beach curfew for on-leash dogs from 9.30am-7.30pm between 1 December and 31 March during summer months should be eased to 10.30am-7.30pm to allow dog owners to walk their pooches along Frankston beach later in the morning.
Councillors including Cr Brian Cunial and Cr Glenn Aitken vehemently opposed any relaxation of the dogs beach curfew rules at the meeting on Monday 22 June, claiming dogs frequently soiled beach towels at Frankston beach and some pet owners are “aggressive” when confronted about such incidents.
Cr Spelman told The Times she regretted using the F-bomb in public.
“Unfortunately I got a little frustrated … before I could even stop myself I looked up and half-whispered it. I didn’t even get the full word out but everybody heard it.”
Councillors switch on individual microphones to speak at public council meetings and comments during debate are therefore amplified.
“I was mortified immediately afterwards and I did immediately apologise at the meeting.”
Cr Sandra Mayer, who chairs council meetings as the mayor, did not sanction Cr Spelman.
It is a summary offence to swear in public in Victoria and offenders can face an on-the-spot fine of $240 by police.
However “swearing has become so commonplace now that most people won’t even raise an eyebrow when someone does drop the ‘F-bomb’”, according to legal resources directory FindLaw Australia.
Council officers will investigate the possibility of changing the beach curfew times for dogs after councillors voted 5-3 in favour of Cr Spelman’s notice of motion.
Crs Spelman, Colin Hampton, Mayer, Michael O’Reilly and Darrel Taylor supported an investigation into easing the curfew rules.
Crs Aitken, Cunial and James Dooley opposed the proposal.
