The following article appeared in yesterday’s Caulfield Leader –

 

Letter uproar: Councillors slam former deputy over CEO allegations

“GLEN Eira councillors have strongly denied former deputy mayor Helen Whiteside’s claims of ‘‘bad governance’’ and ‘‘unacceptable behaviour’’ while continuing to suppress her threepage letter of resignation.  

Councillors were to vote on whether to release the letter at last week’s council meeting, but Cr Michael Lipshutz moved a motion to just ‘‘note’’ her resignation instead. Though Cr Jim Magee pushed for it to be made public, his requests were largely ignored.

Mrs Whiteside has provided more detail about her decision to quit on July 30. She said she wanted to know why the cost of reappointing chief executive Andrew Newton – who has held the role for 10 years – soared from $6500 to $44,000. Mr Newton was reappointed for two years in April. ‘‘I was aware of the cost and how it was escalating,’’ Mrs Whiteside said. ‘‘I was on the committee and I was not kept in the loop. I was appalled the cost of reappointing him was over $44,000 when I left office.’’

Mayor Steven Tang refuted suggestions of bad behaviour. ‘‘To the extent former councillor Whiteside’s comments are based on attributing ulterior motives to opposing views, I reject this inference wholeheartedly,’’ he said.

Cr Michael Lipshutz said he was saddened and disappointed ‘‘that Helen has not only resigned but has done so with spite and malice denigrating in such an untruthful way the council and her colleagues’’. Cr Margaret Esakoff is the new deputy mayor.” (end of article)

It is with sheer amazement that we read Whiteside’s ‘explanation’ for her departure. If this is not disingenuous then we don’t know what is! Professed concern for ratepayers $44,000 is ‘noble’ – but hey! This information was made public months and months ago via a public question. So it’s only now that Whiteside quits? Why the silence for months and months? Perhaps the real reason is not our hard earned cash being spent, but the simple fact that her preference was a five year term for Newton. Seems that her admitted ‘disappointment’ at the two year contract is a more plausible reason. Further, given Magee’s support of this position, then of course he would also push for the release of her letter.

Then we have the ‘other side’ – Lipshutz and co. Seems that their tirade against Whiteside and the resultant bad publicity, has cautioned them to write the following epistle which appeared in today’s Moorabbin Leader under the tag line We’re Here to Help –

“We write in response to an article ‘Glen Eira councillor walks out’ (Leader August 11th).  As Glen Eira councillors we have sworn an oath to undertake the duties of the office of councillor in the best interests of the people of the municipal district of Glen Eira.

We understand that in representing the people of Glen Eira we will disagree from time to time.

We respect each other’s right to hold informed but different views and have always understood that disagreement does not mean disharmony.

We encourage a spirit of debate at council where councillors may respectfully take diametrically opposed positions on one issue and then strongly agree on the next. These differences do not affect our ability to maintain professional and cordial relationships.

We look forward to welcoming our new councillor colleague and offer him or her all the assistance required  to fully and effectively represent the Glen Eira community.”

City of Glen Eira councillors.

We can now really rest assured that the ‘spirit of debate’ is alive and well and that there is no ‘disharmony’ within the wonderful ‘club’ that is Glen Eira!