HOBSONS Bay mayor Tony Briffa has urged fellow councillor Peter Hemphill to accept his apology and end a long-running dispute which, he claims, could cost ratepayers a quarter of a million in legal fees.
At an emotional media conference this morning, Cr Briffa called on Cr Hemphill to end the battle over the three e-mails he (Cr Briffa) sent to former Mobil public relations adviser Maureen Short last year.
In February, VCAT ordered Cr Hemphill and Cr Briffa to undergo mediation.
However, the feud has now escalated with the warring councillors scheduled to go before a two-member panel at a three-day hearing at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal on or after May 25.
A serious misconduct finding would see Cr Briffa lose his mayoralty and be ineligible to stand as mayor for four years.
The dispute started last June when Cr Hemphill, who represents the Williamstown North ward, made a complaint against Cr Briffa, alleging misconduct.
On August 11, a councillor-conduct panel convened by the Municipal Association of Victoria found Cr Briffa had breached the council’s code of conduct in respect to the three emails sent to Ms Short.
Cr Briffa, who was not at the hearing because he was interstate with a terminally ill friend, was ordered to apologise, undertake mentoring and undergo counselling under supervision of the mayor.
Cr Briffa has twice apologised to Ms Short, the second time offering his unreserved apology at a public council meeting. VCAT has now sealed all files relating to the case.
Hobsons Bay Weekly has applied to VCAT to release the documents, arguing that the hearing is in the public interest, particularly as it is being funded by ratepayers.
In our application we argue that local governance should be transparent and ratepayers should know how their money is being spent.
In a statement this morning, Cr Briffa said he believed the complaint against him should be withdrawn.
‘‘The total legal bill all up for the council, should it progress to a full hearing, could be in the order of $200,000 to $250,000,’’ he said.
‘‘This figure is akin to 10 footpaths, the annual operating budget of five community centres, an upgrade of a significant park, an upgrade to a local road (or) improvements to a shopping strip.
‘‘These costly and divisive legal distractions, legal proceedings are clearly a distraction from where our focus ought be.
‘‘I also have with me a signed statement of apology which I am prepared to make publicly.
‘‘I call on Cr Hemphill to accept these words, put this matter behind us for the benefit of the ratepayers of Hobsons Bay and withdraw his ‘frivolous’ application against me.’’
The Weekly is seeking comment from Cr Hemphill.
