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Wednesday, October 7, 2015
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‘With honour they served’
MAREEBA commemorated ‘National Police Remembrance Day’ last Tuesday, in a respectful, dignified ceremony. Local residents and current serving officers paid their respects to those who have made the ultimate sacrifce. Taking the salute of the parade (representing the Qld Police Commissioner) is Acting Chief Superintendant Brett Schafferius, alongside Acting District Superintendant, Rolf Straatemeier.
Divided reign By Justin Fris
LAST Thursday morning’s Tablelands Regional Council meeting saw arguably the most controversial use of Mayor Rosa Lee Long’s casting vote during her tenure. TRC councillors Peter Hodge and Geoff Stocker sided with Mayor Lee Long in updating an amendment to the TRC’s ‘Standing Orders’ – with Cr’s Shaaron Linwood, Rod Marti and Marjorie Pagani voting against it. Amongst several new changes, this decision now means that any councillor wishing to table a motion during ‘General Business’, can only do so 10 or more days out from the meeting. If the issue falls within the 10 day period before the meeting, it will be forced to queue two or three weeks until the next meeting.
The new ruling states: “A notice must be submitted in writing to the CEO, ten (10) calendar days prior to the next Ordinary Council Meeting. The CEO will make every attempt to list the item on the agenda for the next available Council Ordinary Meeting.” This infuriated Cr Rod Marti, was denied an opportunity to move a motion of support for those impacted by a serious supermarket fire in Yungaburra, the same morning. “So on the morning of the Yungaburra Foodworks fire, and after visiting the scene early with fire crews still fully engaged, I was refused the opportunity to report its devastating effects to Council's scheduled meeting,” he said. “With the doctoring of the ‘Standing Orders’, councillors now have to give 10 days notice of ‘General Business’ items. “The four votes of the Mayor, Cr Stocker and Cr Hodge have put
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brakes on representing community issues as they happen. ‘General Business’ at the TRC is dead and buried.” Additionally to the above ruling, the TRC Mayor is now allowed to move any item into the agenda for consideration – even without a seconder. The ‘Mayoral Minute’ ruling reads: “The Mayor may move that a matter be introduced to the agenda for consideration at a meeting. This motion does not require to be seconded, but requires a majority vote. Once the meeting concluded, concerned ratepayers voiced their concern outside about how wording within sections of the legislation allowed for considerable ambiguity. CONTINUED PAGE 3
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