HOBSONS Bay mayor Angela Altair has responded to the outrage over Tuesday night’s council meeting, saying the council did not want to make rushed decisions.
Emotional residents said they were left ‘‘speechless, appalled and disgusted’’ at the behaviour of Hobsons Bay councillors at the ordinary meeting.
Seven separate motions moved by Cherry Lake Councillor Tony Briffa failed to receive a seconder from the other six councillors, meaning they could not be discussed or voted on.
Police were called when Laverton North business owner Michael Sergi was angered that questions concerning the troubled Burns Road estate failed to elicit answers.
Landowners on the estate say they have ‘‘dead land’’ and were demanding to know how the council could collect rates while letting their land ‘‘remain fallow’’ due to a caveat which states lots under two hectares can’t be developed.
SEE: Burns Road land investment turns sour
SEE: Letter to Hobsons Bay council
Of eight motions moved by Cr Briffa, only one requesting a report about issues in Burns Road received a seconder, from new councillor Paul Morgan.
However, five councillors voted against it.
Cr Briffa’s seven other motions lapsed.
The motions included: a request for a traffic count in Millers Road, Altona, a certificate of appreciation to an Altona kindergarten teacher for 10 years’ service and reports on Fell Reserve in Seaholme, the disused Altona West Primary School site, and ways to improve Hobsons Bay’s economic development, including the possibility of joining LeadWest.
Another failed motion was for $38,000 to be budgeted for solar lights at Altona’s Harrington Square shopping centre, where a woman was nearly bashed to death in July.
The normal process is for a notice of motion to be seconded, discussed and then voted on by councillors.
Mr Sergi told the angry gallery: ‘‘I’m sorry that the people that you’ve got here are blind and selfish and they don’t belong here.’’
Cr Briffa addressed the group, saying, ‘‘Good, decent community-minded motions tonight that didn’t even have a seconder…things like improving safety at Harrington Square for lights around the shopping centre where we’ve had issues.
‘‘Things like a crossing on Millers Road for kids and cyclists. Unbelievable. They’re flexing their bloc. It’s obvious it’s just a power thing.’’
Resident Anne Tangey questioned whether the councillors’ actions had been planned.
‘‘I’m disgusted that not one of Tony Briffa’s motions was seconded,’’ she said.
‘‘I mean, a kindergarten teacher?
‘‘I’m just disgusted. I didn’t realise what was happening at first.
‘‘How many councillors do we have — seven? So, six will be against whatever Tony brings forward, even his fellow ward councillor [Sandra Wilson]. Was this planned?’’
Another resident, Ann Hunter, said she was speechless.
‘‘This is only my second council meeting I’ve been to and I’m totally speechless at what I saw: the behaviour of councillors that have been elected by the residents of Hobsons Bay.
‘‘It’s just appalling, the fact that they ganged up on a totally independent person who’s very community minded and they just boycotted him.”
Altona Village Traders Association president Kim Walsh said the councillors failure to second motions concerning community safety was ‘‘nothing short of disgusting’’.
He reserved his strongest criticism for Cherry Lake ward councillor Sandra Wilson.
‘‘The people of Altona should let their ward councillors know exactly what they think.
‘‘Sadly, she (Cr Wilson) showed her true colors. We have got long memories Sandra — very long memories — and we know a lot of people,’’ Mr Walsh said.
Cr Wilson said her decision not to second Cr Briffa’s motions was motivated by a desire to go through correct processes and not make decisions on the run.
“Not supporting several notices of motion last night was not a personal attack on a fellow councillor, but a desire for these issues to go through the proper processes so that we, as a group, can make considered and informed decisions to benefit our community.
“My decision to not support the notices of motion should not undermine the trust that I have already built in the community and I, myself, have been consulting with members of the community on some of these important issues and plan on raising several from last night at the next councillor briefing – an appropriate forum to discuss concerns before a decision is made.
“I am resolute, comfortable and confident with the way last night was handled and believe it is important to set the new tone of the council early based on trust and transparency and not making decisions on the run.”
Hobsons Bay mayor Angela Altair said in a statement that the council did not want to make rushed decisions.
‘‘Last night’s council meeting sent a clear message that this council wishes to do things differently. Using notices of motion as the starting point for decision making is not good governance and can lead to poor results.
“The police were not called to deal with councillor behaviour but as a precaution due to unruliness in the gallery, and given there were children present.
‘‘The restructure of land in Burns Road is a complex matter that has significant history behind it. The council will continue to have ongoing discussions with concerned landowners and other stakeholders regarding the future of the site. My fellow councillors and I will be fully briefed on these issues.’’
Strand ward councillor Paul Morgan said as he was not briefed on the matters raised in Cr Briffa’s motions, he was unable to confidently second or support any except for one relating to Burns Road which had a detailed understanding of.
“As a new councillor, I’m sure you will appreciate that I have been confronted with volumes and volumes of information to digest over the past few weeks in relation to various council and ward matters.”
The Weekly is seeking comment from the remaining three councillors.
