On April 18th, 2018 Eurobodalla Mayor Liz Innes launched her fortnightly column The local Bay Post headlined it as "Take a minute with the Mayor" The Beagle would like to invite its readers to "Take a minute with the Mayor" and submit what they would like to say to the Mayor in a minute. Unless you are a self professed speed reader like Councillor Lindsay Brown who apparently can read 6412 in 15 minutes most of us can only muster 300. So have a think and pen what you would like to say to the Mayor if you had a minute and email them to beagleweeklynews@gmail.com and if they are publishable we will do so. Rules: 1. As the Mayor is putting her name on her column it is expected that you put your name to your work as well. 2. Remember there is a wide audience of readers so keep it nice and respectable. 3. Play the position and not the person if you are making reference to Council staff eg. Director, GM... 4. Max 300 words We know council staff and councillors read The Beagle and there is little doubt that your 300 words will be read by the Mayor and maybe, just maybe, she might make reference to the issue you raise in her next Mayoral column. To start the ball rolling "Take a Minute with the Mayor": Lei Parker of The Beagle Mayor, It appears your House of Cards is collapsing around you with the community building momentum on several fronts to question and challenge. Mackay Park has not been a success story in communication or consultation. There is a continued and growing perception that Council does not listen and that it does whatever it chooses, irrespective of consultation which many in the community classify as token. It is perceived by many in the community that both you and your councillors are simply rubber-stamps endorsing anything put before you by staff and that there is a distinct disdain held for anyone in the community who dares question council, by senior staff and councilors alike. It is also perceived by many that council staff have their own agenda in regards to facilities, priorities and budgets and also their own agenda with formation of policy. There are many examples where staff have added their own inclusions and layers to State Government requirements. When you were elected you said your “overwhelming issue was a desire for a change in management style”. Your election manifesto was “to build a Council you can rely on. A Council you can trust. A Council which is your friend not your enemy.” And “We won’t just listen to our residents’ reasonable concerns. We will take notice and we will take action.” You stood to “develop practical and affordable mitigation plans and do what is possible to assist affected residents deal with any problems that arise. We won’t impose draconian restrictions on renovations and repairs.” “We will establish an independent Ombudsman to allow residents to appeal against administrative actions they believe are unfair.” Since your election as Mayor the Council has sustained an unprecedented and continued barrage of Codes of Conduct complaints under your command. Where did it go wrong and why?
