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Wednesday December 1, 2010
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ROWDY council meeting:
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‘STOP IT’
Mayor warns against ‘disruptive’ behaviour
The conduct of some councillors and members of the public gallery at council meetings has been described as “disrespectful” and “disruptive” by Wakefield Regional Council mayor, James Maitland. The message comes after another fiery council meeting at Wakefield Regional Council (WRC) last Wednesday night, where members of the public and some councillors allegedly acted “inappropriately” . At one point during last week’s council meeting, the first meeting of the new council, Port Wakefield resident, Richard Pain, an unsuccessful mayoral candidate at the recent council election, stormed out after tempers flared in the chamber. Outbursts from the public gallery continued throughout the meeting, forcing Mayor Maitland to call order, threatening to require certain people to leave. “I hope it never has to come to that point; when we do need to get
BREAKING
NEWS
LAUREN HERMON reports:
people to actually leave,” mayor Maitland said this week. “Respect needs to be put back into the system. “This behaviour is distruptive to councillors and staff, and is unnecessary. “Other attendees in the public gallery with general interest in the meeting are also denied opportunity to listen without such disruption.” Members of the public are able to have their say during public question time at WRC. Not all councils have this session available to gallery members, and instead only provide the standard formal deputation method. WRC chief executive officer, Phil Barry, said a person in the gallery had since informed him they had struggled to effectively hear meeting deliberations due to outbursts and interruptions
from certain gallery members last Wednesday. Mr Barry said the legal framework for the conduct of councillors – and members in the public gallery – during a council or committee meeting was important. Regulation 29 of the Local Government Act “Procedure at Meeting Regulations” says: “A member of the public who is present at a meeting of a council or council committee must not behave in a disorderly manner or cause an interruption.” The maximum court penalty if a member of the public breaches this regulation is $500. Mayor Maitland said he would reinforce the consequences of unnecessary outbursts from both members of the gallery and councillors before the next council meeting, on December 15. • More news from the newlook council, Page 2.
Mayor James Maitland is shown warning Port Wakefield resident Richard Pain as he interjects during discussions at last week’s council meeting. – PICTURE: Les Pearson.
n ELCA SETS IT STRAIGHT AS SHE DEPARTS – PAGE 3
VOTE BLOCKS T WO WELLS SHOPPING PLAN
Joe forces Mallala council rethink
In a major setback for development plans in Two Wells, a proposed shopping centre will be delayed after a motion by local councillor Joe Daniele was approved on Monday night by District Council of Mallala. The 6-5 vote means council must immediately stop negotiations with the government to purchase and then sell public land. Cr Anne Picard put forward another motion that no further action be taken on the develop-
By Bronte Hewett
ments until a number of matters had been brought to council for consideration and review. Councillors voted similarly and the motion was carried. Cr Picard requested a report, which would outline details of consultants briefs, council obligations, Crown land issues, flood potential
and all community consultation in regard to the opinions of Two Wells residents. About a dozen community members watched from the public gallery, hoping the development would not get further delayed. But the result would be less than satisfying for many locals who have seen years of discussion on the proposed shopping centre. • Continued Page 25
crop fire:
Was it arson?
n SEE PAGE 7
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