FRANKSTON councillor Brian Cunial has declined the opportunity to deny allegations of “bullying” behaviour against council staff. The Times revealed last week that WorkCover was called in to investigate the alleged bullying of a staff member in 2013 (‘Council ‘bullying cover up”, The Times 2/2/15). The Times understands the female employee’s WorkCover claim for paid leave for time off work was approved. When asked about Cr Cunial’s involvement in the WorkCover case, mayor Cr Sandra Mayer said “discussion of WorkCover matters is a serious breach of confidentiality and legislation”. Calls and email correspondence to Cr Cunial, both before and after…
Author: Neil Walker
PROPERTY developers have been put on notice by Frankston Council that breaches of planning permit conditions will no longer be tolerated. A council audit of developments after a statement of compliance had been issued found more than 97 per cent were effectively “non-compliant”. A statement of compliance is issued by council to ensure all conditions of a planning permit for a subdivision or multi-unit development are met. At last month’s council meeting Cr Darrel Taylor said some developers get a planning permit then build without meeting the permit’s conditions. “If a developer or applicant wishes to change or amend the…
THE humanitarian clowns bus is coming… hopefully. The charity group, which believes laughter is the best medicine to cheer up the ill and disadvantaged, is aiming to raise enough money to buy a Laughter Bus. Chief clown Tim Webster said he had been diagnosed with leukaemia at a young age and “received a lot of community support” and this is the inspiration behind setting up the Humanitarians Clown group, which was granted official charity status in July last year. The 33-year-old said he wants to “bring happiness to others”. He visited Africa and in “a life changing moment” he saw…
FRANKSTON Council is being accused of having a “cover up” culture as more details emerge of bullying claims at the civic centre. WorkCover was called in to investigate the alleged bullying of a council staff member in 2013 and last month a council meeting was adjourned so councillors could try to resolve their differences over “bullying” allegations away from public view. The Times understands the female employee’s WorkCover claim for paid leave for time off work was approved. Revelations of the woman’s claim emerged in the wake of a public council meeting on Monday 19 January being adjourned for about…
TALKS between Seaford Beach Cabin Park owner Michael Hibbert and Frankston Council over a new 10-year lease for the site are continuing in the lead-up to a March deadline to agree a deal. The cabin park houses emergency accommodation for disadvantaged and marginalised residents. Fears residents could face eviction have eased after council agreed to extend the lease on a Crown land portion of the cabin park late last year (‘Compromise on cabin park lease’, The Times 12/1/15). Mr Hibbert and council are now working their way through conditions imposed by council as part of a lease renewal. Council wants…