By Oliver Lees
A Hume councillor has called for a monitor to be appointed to oversee the council in a bid to resolve “deep cultural issues among councillors“.
It comes as eight arbiter’s reports were presented to a council meeting last week, costing ratepayers $49,500.
The reports follow an earlier arbiter’s report, which was tabled at the July 12 council meeting, and cost ratepayers $3000.
“What everyone has observed tonight … is that there are deep cultural issues among councillors at Hume,” Cr Jodi Jackson said.
“For the benefit of our ratepayers, I think that it’s entirely appropriate for a monitor to be appointed here to Hume City Council as a matter of urgency.”
Eleven allegations of breaches of Hume’s Councillor Code of Conduct were investigated as part of an internal arbitration process into the conduct of Cr Trevor Dance.
This arbitration process was instigated by a group of councillors who were represented by Cr Carly Moore.
The arbiter’s report found Cr Dance contravened eight clauses of the Code of Conduct.
Cr Dance submitted seven applications instigating internal arbitration processes against mayor Joseph Haweil and councillors Moore, Jack Medcraft and Karen Sherry.
The arbiter ruled that none of those councillors had breached the Code of Conduct.
Speaking at last week’s council meeting, Cr Haweil said it was a “very, very sad day for Hume council“.
“I take absolutely no delight in the fact that one councillor has been found to have breached the Code of Conduct on … eight allegations by the arbiter,“ he said.
Former Hume councillor Ann Potter said calls for the appointment of a monitor were “outrageous”.
“In all my years on council… we had, I think, two councillor conduct issues,” Ms Potter said.
“They were unfortunate, but to now have seven in six months, with most of them being dismissed, is just horrible.”
Sunbury Residents Association president Graham Williams said it was “devastating” that ratepayers’ money had been used in this way.
“It’s unfortunate the council has to invest those dollars and also officers’ time into those sorts of matters, which could be allocated to other imperatives,” Mr Williams said.
A Hume council spokesperson said training had been given to councillors to support strong working relationships.
“Training sessions in relation to creating safe and respectful workplaces were conducted in July and August,“ the spokesperson said.
