Councillors should all be congratulated for having the courage to argue that issues of fundamental concern to the community, particularly where they go to the integrity of our elected representatives, should be able to be discussed in open council, notwithstanding some of the challenges that such an approach might represent for some councillors. NO, that isn't talking about Eurobodalla Shire Councillors - the above is an extract from the latest media release (below) by the Bega Valley Shire Residents & Ratepayers Association. Just imagine if it were Eurobodalla Councillors they were refferring to as they continue...
"We were delighted to see those same councillors speaking to issues with real passion & conviction, rather than the bored, disinterested & detached way that seems to characterise so much of council’s discussion of issues. To see & hear councillors standing-up for principles such as integrity, rather than being constrained by the dead hand of discredited process was entirely refreshing & welcome."
"To hear those same councillors openly & fearlessly speaking-out about the entirely dysfunctional & discredited code of conduct process, which has been cynically used & abused by both council bureaucrats & some councillors to manipulate & often discredit opponents, avoid accountability or abuse those in the community who might dare seek to speak truth to power, was a breath of fresh air."
"The BVSRRA was also delighted to hear those same councillors refuse to be manipulated by council’s general manager who, the BVSRRA believes, routinely pursues an agenda that the elected council is not even aware of, was wonderful."
"And the BVSRRA was delighted to hear & see those same councillors successfully expose the dishonest & cynical behaviour exhibited by some of their colleagues through the abuse of the code of conduct process was a sign of real hope that the real independence of thought & action evidenced by some councillors during the recent budget discussions might just expand to the wider management of civic affairs in the Bega Valley & could give rise to genuine reform of council’s dysfunctional & publicly discredited management culture."
"And finally, to hear council’s general manager apologising for the administrative inconvenience caused by council’s bureaucratic mismanagement, after making a less than fully frank public statement to the media before the meeting, was a clear & useful reminder of the work & challenges that our councillors have yet to confront." It might well be time for Eurobodalla Councillors to have a very close look at where THEY are going and how THEY and COUNCIL are perceived by the Eurobodalla community.
The full media release from BVSRRA is as follows:
change, she’s a coming …
The Bega Valley Shire Residents & Ratepayers Association (BVSRRA) believes that it would be easy to characterise today’s fiery meeting of Bega Valley Shire Council (BVSC) as further evidence of the failure of council to put the interests of the community first.
But the BVSRRA believes that to do that would be a serious mistake, as it would fail to recognise some important changes that could result in major positive reform to the benefit of the community appear to be well underway.
In the first instance, the BVSRRA believes that Clrs Fitzpatrick, Allen, Bain & Nadin should all be congratulated for having the courage to argue that issues of fundamental concern to the community, particularly where they go to the integrity of our elected representatives, should be able to be discussed in open council, notwithstanding some of the challenges that such an approach might represent for some councillors.
The BVSRRA was delighted to see those same councillors speaking to issues with real passion & conviction, rather than the bored, disinterested & detached way that seems to characterise so much of council’s discussion of issues. To see & hear councillors standing-up for principles such as integrity, rather than being constrained by the dead hand of discredited process was entirely refreshing & welcome.
To hear those same councillors openly & fearlessly speaking-out about the entirely dysfunctional & discredited code of conduct process, which has been cynically used & abused by both council bureaucrats & some councillors to manipulate & often discredit opponents, avoid accountability or abuse those in the community who might dare seek to speak truth to power, was a breath of fresh air.
The BVSRRA was also delighted to hear those same councillors refuse to be manipulated by council’s general manager who, the BVSRRA believes, routinely pursues an agenda that the elected council is not even aware of, was wonderful.
And the BVSRRA was delighted to hear & see those same councillors successfully expose the dishonest & cynical behaviour exhibited by some of their colleagues through the abuse of the code of conduct process was a sign of real hope that the real independence of thought & action evidenced by some councillors during the recent budget discussions might just expand to the wider management of civic affairs in the Bega Valley & could give rise to genuine reform of council’s dysfunctional & publicly discredited management culture.
And finally, to hear council’s general manager apologising for the administrative inconvenience caused by council’s bureaucratic mismanagement, after making a less than fully frank public statement to the media before the meeting, was a clear & useful reminder of the work & challenges that our councillors have yet to confront.
While we don’t yet know the final outcome of today’s meeting, one thing is now certain …
Change, she’s a coming!!
John Richardson
Secretary/Treasurer
Bega Valley Shire Residents & Ratepayers Association
