We received the following comment from a reader and wish to highlight it in a separate post. It reads:
“Received notification of a caulfield racecourse precinct special committee meeting on Monday 13th December 2010 at 7pm at the town hall. It states you will not be allowed to address the meeting or ask questions. Obviously the decision has been made by the gang of four. Heaven help us all.”
As per usual, nothing is up on Council website, so we would appreciate it if readers could please send us a copy – gedebates@gmail.com
Glen Eira Debates 
November 25, 2010 at 11:21 PM
Since this is a ‘special committee’ meeting, they only have to legally give 7 days notice – which I guess they’ve done. Expect an ad in the Leader next week probably on page 30 or something similar. The Local Govt Act however, doesn’t state anything about no questions, or no-one allowed to speak, and since council’s local law gives everyone the right to apply to speak, then I suggest everyone does that. When they refuse you permission, this should make a terrific story for the Age, Leader, current affair, and heaps of other news outlets.
The sheer stupidity of these councillors in delegating away their power is mind boggling. This should never have been allowed to happen, especially with such a sensitive issue as the racecourse. Penhalluriack was right in wanting to abolish it. The committee is stacked, undemocratic, and anti-community – regardless of all the crap about conflict of interest. When you continually delegate power and authority then you might just as well not have any councillors.
November 25, 2010 at 11:37 PM
Stacked ain’t the word! Try highway robbery. When you look at the terms of reference for this gang of four committee the truth suddenly dawns. It doesn’t take 4 to make decisions. All that’s needed is 3, and if someone is absent, then only 2. We can therefore have 2 people making a vital decision for everyone. How does everyone like these terms of reference -“The committee shall attempt to reach all decisions by way of consensus between members. Failing consensus, any questions failing to be resolved by the committee shall be resolved by a majority of votes…
A ‘majority’ can be 2! Great stuff!
November 26, 2010 at 6:23 AM
A gang of four? Is it Crs Lipshutz, Hyams, Esakoff, and Tang? Aren’t they the longest serving Councillors, know all and ‘just trust me I know what’s good for you, leave it all to me and the CEO’? No need to confer or confirm with anybody! The hindsight is a great thing and it tells me that you are wrong most of the time. Start approaching and talking to the community at large before you make up your bloody minds on the basis of Winky Pop. That is your job and duty to do. What I see you are only talking to people you know, your ethnic community, your friends and your family! Talk about bloody bias. Nothing to do with independence and impartiality!
November 26, 2010 at 7:28 AM
The gang of four should tread very carefully on this one. I can smell revolution in the air, just like what happened in St Kilda with the triangle project. Can you hear the people sing!