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ONCE AGAIN COUNCIL SHOWS ITS LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND OUTRIGHT CONTEMPT FOR THE PEOPLE OF MONASH

The following question was put by the Monash Ratepayers Association to Council  for its CEO, David Conran to answer:  

As reported in the local papers over the past two weeks or so, Council has spent $30,000 on legal fees against a Monash Councillor. Along with other ratepayers of the City of Monash, I have not had any say over the spending of this money, nor has Council provided or demonstrated any justification for the expenditure. I ask the CEO for the breakdown of the $30,000 that Council is reportedly spending on legal action defending any action against any Councillor?

 If, as stated in the local paper, Council staff have had problems with a Councillor, why has there been no dispute resolution enacted to deal with alleged indiscretions of any Councillor?

 The following answer was received from Mayor Dimopoulos at the last Council meeting:

 Mr Daw, whilst your question was addressed to the Chief Executive Officer I should point out that Public Question Time at Council Meetings only provides for questions to be submitted to Council, and therefore I will deal with your question. 

The report in the local papers that Council has spent approximately $30,000 defending Cr Solity’s actions only refers to an estimate of the likely cost to be incurred in defending the intervention order applications made against individual Councillors by Councillor Solity.

 At this stage I am unable to provide you with a detailed breakdown of the amounts incurred as costs are still being finalised.

 In regard to the second part of your question relating to Council staff having problems with a Councillor I have taken advice on this matter and as provided for in the Council’s Local Law, I am disallowing the question as it relates to “ personnel matters”.

Monash Ratepayers Association Editorial Comment:

The Mayor’s statement that questions may not be put to Council officers is not correct. Questions may be put through the Council (chair) to officers and there are precedents where this has been done in the past. 

There is no intervention order against individual Councillors by Councillor Solity.

 The $30,000 quoted in the local papers is Council’s figure and a detailed breakdown should be provided. Mayor Dimopolous has made no commitment to provide one either now or in the future. 

No justification for this expenditure has been provided to the people of Monash. These expenses are an inappropriate use of ratepayers money. They are not those that should be born by the Council but rather by the individual Councillors, if they believe that they have a legitimate case that justifies them pursuing it. 

Mayor Dimopolous refusal to answer the second part of the question shows what a secretive and unaccountable Council Monash has become under his mayoralty. Too often Council is hiding behind Council’s Local Law (that part of which he has not defined to justify this non-disclosure) or the Local Government Act or whatever else serves to maintain Council’s veil of secrecy. 

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