Trevor Dance has been granted a ‘stay’ by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), reinstating him as a Hume councillor following his suspension by a Councillor Conduct Panel (CCP).
On April 29, Cr Dance was suspended for three months for “serious misconduct” in failing to comply with two lawful directions from an arbiter.
Cr Dance vowed to appeal the decision at VCAT, and on May 13 the tribunal issued a stay order, which meant he was reinstated as a councillor, effective immediately.
A stay order suspends a legal proceeding until a decision is made.
“The appeals process is still in progress and needs to be respected,” Hume council chief executive Sheena Frost said.
The panel determined that Cr Dance was guilty of “serious misconduct” in failing to follow a direction that he attend hearings on June 17 and 24, 2021 in person.
In a report released on April 29, the panel rejected Cr Dance’s contention that his mental health made it impossible for him to comply with the directions.
“We do not accept that is so,” the panel said in a report.
Elsie Lange
