FRANKSTON councillors have publicly attacked Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke over comments he made in state parliament and on Facebook over their failure to correctly sign a new code of conduct. All nine Frankston councillors were among more than 100 councillors across Victoria who faced expulsion from public office after administrative blunders while lodging paperwork to sign up to a state government-mandated code of conduct before a 4 July deadline. State legislation to give councillors a new deadline of 22 February next year was passed to save them from expulsion ahead of municipal elections on 22 October. Mr Edbrooke questioned why…
Author: Neil Walker
LAWYERS paid ratepayers’ money to investigate and arbitrate internal disputes between Frankston councillors have expressed concerns over “considerable expense for council” when ruling on unsubstantiated code of conduct complaints. Ratepayers will foot the bill running to tens of thousands of dollars for at least three arbitration sittings in the past two months (“Costly conduct for ratepayers”, The Times 5/9/16). Council CEO Dennis Hovenden and mayor Cr James Dooley refuse to give specific or ballpark figures for the legal fees. “Council is unable to comment on these matters as they remain confidential,” Cr Dooley, council’s official spokesman as mayor, said in…
POKIES bankrupted the Frankston Football Club. The Dolphins went into voluntary administration late last month as the club struggled under large debts and the administrators called in by the club have now confirmed most of the club’s debts are related to pokies machines licences. Worrells Solvency and Forensic Accountants, administrators called in by the club, revealed at a creditors meeting last Wednesday (7 September) that the footy club owes the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation about $475,000 and $230,000 to Tabcorp. Both debts are related to 27 electronic gaming machines the Dolphins decided to remove from its new…
THE Frankston line will have a mix of above and below ground level rail as part of the state government’s plan to separate road from rail at level crossings and homes may be compulsory acquired to remove the crossing at Charman Rd in Cheltenham. Labor Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan visited Edithvale train station on Tuesday morning (6 September) to unveil options for the removal of level crossings at eight sites along the rail line. The state government is now asking for community feedback on the flagged designs for each crossing before deciding on the final designs early next year.…
THE administrator tasked with sorting through Frankston Football Club’s finances says it is too early to determine the way ahead for the Dolphins. Worrells Solvency and Forensic Accountants managing partner Paul Burness said he hoped to have a clearer picture of the Victorian Football League club’s financial position this week. About $800,000 in debts is believed to have caused the football club to put itself into voluntary administration this month (“Dolphins sink under”, The Times 29/8/16). Tabcorp Gaming Solutions is owed money for pokies machine licences. The 27 electronic gaming machines at the Dolphins’ stadium and function centre, rebuilt at…