DISCUSSION about a report which evaluated the behaviour and governance of Frankston Council ended with a heated argument and a councillor storming out of a meeting last week.
At Frankston Council’s 17 February meeting, councillors discussed their correspondence to the local government minister in response to the findings of the municipal monitor’s report. The monitor was appointed by the state government to investigate council’s governance, and came at a cost of over $100,000 to ratepayers.
The meeting broke down into vicious shouting matches after Crs Colin Hampton and Brian Cunial voiced their disapproval of the letter which council had prepared to send to the minister.
“This response has been simply put together to appease the local government minister,” Cr Cunial said.
Cr Hampton told the meeting that “nothing has changed” since the monitor left council.
Cr Glenn Aitken said that comments made about the letter had “the potential to damage the council very badly”, and walked out of the meeting. The meeting was quickly adjourned, and all councillors were brought behind closed doors by the mayor before soon returning. Cr Aitken returned for the remainder of the meeting.
The letter to the minister reads that “council is committed to addressing the recommendations and will develop a robust approach to ensure we are continually improving and achieving good governance outcomes and provision of quality services in the best interests of the community.”
The letter read that it is a goal of council to “build more trusting relationships”.
“Councillors are committed to having an open dialogue and discussion with all parties, knowing they have the ability to freely contribute. Councillors have agreed to address poor behaviour and will ask for redress at the time it occurs,” council wrote. “Council is committed to developing more interpersonal working relationships to build trust and encourage a positive culture.”
The letter also stated that there would be a focus on “streamlined council meeting agendas, minutes and reports” and “clarity on the process for notice of motions” going forward.
Council eventually voted to send the letter to the minister with a 6-3 vote. Crs Cunial, Hampton, and Lillian O’Connor opposed.
Cr Steve Toms, who has recently returned from a four month suspension for allegedly bullying a coworker, said “the root of our problems is the relationships between councillors”.
Cr Hampton interrupted Cr Toms’ speech to raise a point of order, asking the mayor “can you shut him up?”
Cr Kris Bolam said the three councillors who opposed the letter “had the opportunity to shape council’s response. They didn’t offer any suggestions, and scantly attended meetings, in relation to council’s formal reply to the monitor’s findings.”
“They are having one big fat dummy spit because the response and optics are not to their liking,” he said.
The mayor Cr Sandra Mayer told The Times that she called councillors behind closed doors to “allow [them] a chance to reflect and refocus.”
“The process for drafting council’s response to the minister consisted of several briefings, facilitated discussions and email exchanges. All councillors provided input into the response through one or more of these pathways,” she said.
“Council is committed to continuing to address the governance recommendations listed in the monitor’s report, and will keep the community informed of its progress.”
At the same council meeting, CEO Phil Cantillon made a speech addressing recent governance issues (“Audit into Green Wedge action delay”, The Times, 17/2/20)
Council elections will take place in October this year.
First published in the Frankston Times – 25 February 2020
