Submitted by Cr Graham Walkom, 2014.04.09
My Questions on Notice for the Council meeting of today were completely censored. So here they are.
Cr Gr. Walkom
1) How do the Ombudsman’s findings of 26 March 2014 regarding the numerous complaints made to him by Mayor Bates on 7th November 2013 assist with the apparent intent by the mayor and CEO to remove Cr Walkom as an elected member of this council?
2) As not a single one or part thereof of the numerous complaints made to the Ombudsman have been upheld and it was on the mayor’s insistence that council has wasted very considerable resources on this fool’s errand:
a) Will the mayor now do the honourable thing as the holder of OAM and resign as mayor of this council?
b) Is it intended to advise the minister that this outcome reinforces the community and local media view that council is dysfunctional?
c) As the mayor was solely responsible for the legal advice obtained and selectively provided to council on these matters, and the advice provided was clearly erroneous, will the mayor now hold those responsible for that advice to account?
d) Is it appropriate that council apologises to all ratepayers who expect more objective use of the rates they are forced to pay to council, than having these many thousands of dollars plus significant indirect resources wasted in this fashion and advise ratepayers that this council will cease such large-scale misadventures in future?
e) Will the mayor and the CEO now place a much higher priority on addressing council’s atrocious financial position rather than complaining about any elected members or community members who raise concern over our financial position and the associated matters that are contributing to it?
Graham Walkom
Elected Member
These seem like perfectly legitimate questions to be asking in a Council meeting. That they were censured casts an appauling shadow over the Mayor given his obvious personal interest in the matter. Unfortunately what should have been straight forward questions to answer, have now been turned into a minefield of potential litigation. For many communities the elections in November cant come soon enough, mine included.
The maladministration of the island and Council finances, leads me to consider that we as a various communities around the island should start signing petitions to have the council put into the control of government appointed administrator.
Seems to becoming more dysfunctional on a regular basis. Long forgotten is the Vision Statement for a “confident, growing and cohesive community” Crushing open debate and diverse opinions, I don’t believe is a realistic path to a cohesive community.
It is time this arrogant martinette dictator of a Mayoress stood down.
She has persistently bullied anyone in Council who opposes her and her narrow and often backward view on the world.
She came to power solely because there were no other candidates for mayor at the last election.
She has come to represent the absolute opposite of democratic representation.
Many many people on the island would be very grateful to her if she chose not to stand again at the next election. A fourth term would be more than most could stomach.
No mayor would be better than a return of “Just Call Me Jane” or as she is not so affectionately known: El Presidente.
Let us not forget that ratepayers are supporting this JJ Junta by paying the enormous legal bills and by doing nothing but stand by and watch the atrocities.
Remember?: “When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.”