A LONG-running dispute between two Hobsons Bay councillors, believed to have cost ratepayers more than $150,000, has ended after Cr Tony Briffa issued a third public apology on Monday.
The dispute started when Cr Peter Hemphill alleged Cr Briffa had breached the councillor code of conduct in sending three emails to former Mobil public relations adviser Maureen Short.
In the emails, Cr Briffa said Ms Short should be sacked and “any goodwill gained from our meeting at Mobil . . . has been completely erased and the gloves are now off”.
On August 11, 2011, a councillor conduct panel found Cr Briffa had breached the council’s code. Cr Briffa was ordered to apologise, undertake mentoring and undergo counselling.
Cr Briffa was interstate at the time of the panel hearing and had been refused an adjournment.
Cr Hemphill subsequently made a second complaint alleging serious misconduct over the same matter and the adequacy of Cr Briffa’s apology.
If found guilty, Cr Briffa could have been suspended from the council for two months and prevented from running for the mayoralty for four years.
The dispute was this week resolved by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal under confidential terms.
Cr Briffa’s website was updated on Monday and states: “I accept the panel decision of August 2011. Since the panel decision I have apologised twice to Ms Short publicly on 8 November 2011 and 28 March 2012. I again apologise unreservedly to Ms Short for any further offence or embarrassment I may have caused to her.”
Cr Briffa told the Weekly it was a “relief that this matter is over some 20 months after my first apology and I hope that we can all move on”.
Cr Hemphill said Cr Briffa had finally admitted wrongdoing.
“This was an appalling case of bullying of an innocent woman whose only ‘crime’ was that she had a differing opinion to Briffa’s.
“Three findings of misconduct on that Cr Briffa breached the Local Government Act still stand.”
