Tonight’s council meeting witnessed Lipshutz, Hyams and Esakoff plummet to new depths of political bastardry – ably assisted by Paul Burke.
PETITION #1:
Burke announced that there was one petition from ’79 signatories’ relating to the concerns of business and residents about GESAC and parking. We note that this petition was read out quite clearly and at normal speed. Moved to accept by Hyams and seconded by Tang. Pilling spoke about the “hasty’ implementation of the extended car park and that now there was the need to work towards some resolution of the issues ‘raised by residents’. Magee stated that he’d met with residents of Gardiner’s Rd. Claimed that there were ‘certainly some issues of misinformation’ going around ….’cutting out nature strips, parking all day’…’light shining into houses’….’number of cars that are likely to be in the car park’…’we talked about crossovers between one park and the other’….’there is still a lot of confusion….we are in the process of putting together a document….that covers and explains’ (all these issues)….
HYAMS: part of the problem expressed in that petition is that the residents of Gardiner’s Rd. will be parked out ….(on the other hand not enough car parking for GESAC….need to) ‘strike a balance’….
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
PETITION #2
BURKE: Read out the second petition incredibly quickly BUT NEGLECTED TO MENTION THE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES (523) AND FURTHER STATED: ‘we have been unable to ascertain’ (the validity) ‘of the signatures Madam Mayor’. Pilling moved to accept, Forge seconded.
PILLING: ‘quite a sensitive issue….ceo has been reappointed….even though people may have different opinions…..(should be) acknowledged by the council….(Council should be) …..actually big enough to take criticisms….and also constructive criticisms….’
FORGE: ‘Nothing to add’
HYAMS:’I just want to say that ….assumptions inherent in the wording of that petition (which people signed) which isn’t necessarily true’
PILLING: reiterated that the ceo’s contract has been renewed.
Esakoff put the motion. In favour – Magee, Pilling, Forge, Tang
AGAINST: Lipshutz, Hyams, Esakoff
MOTION CARRIED
COMMENTS: We find it astounding that any councillor could vote against the tabling and acceptance of a petition. Residents have every right to express a view and to call upon council to listen to those views – whether they be popular or unpopular. In their attempt to deny residents this right we maintain that Lipshutz, Hyams and Esakoff have clearly voted against the most basic and fundamental rights of residents and revealed to all their total disrespect to the 523 residents who signed the petition. Shame on them all!
Both Lobo and Penhalluriack were apologies for this meeting. We will report on the rest of the circus in the coming days.
Glen Eira Debates 
November 22, 2011 at 11:41 PM
The condemnation of Lipshutz, Esakoff and Hyams in this post is definitely warranted. I’ve read the petition put up on this blog. It was not offensive in language, tone, or sentiment. It simply wanted the ceo’s position advertised. In their attempt to squash this petition these three councillors in my view have completely forgotten whom they were elected to serve and by their votes have undermined the very fabric of democratic representation. Which leads me on to another point about petitions. Other councils actually do something with the petitions that are tabled. They are usually passed on to the relevant department, officer, or ceo for specific action. This may be a report, an answer, or even an opinion. In Glen Eira all that ever happens is that the petition is accepted or noted. It then disappears from view forever with no follow up except an acknowledgement to one individual signatory. Parliament’s standing orders which I’ve just checked says – “A copy of every petition received by the House must be referred by the Clerk to the minister responsible for the administration of the matter that is the subject of the petition”. Nothing is ever left in abeyance as it is in Glen Eira.
The petition was obviously too late to avert the reappointment, but that must never excuse those 3 councillors for their votes. It was stupid, ill advised and can only backfire. Newton was reappointed so the game was over. But silly arrogance or sheer bloody mindedness would not allow these three to leave well enough alone. If the reappointment was a sad day for residents as some commentators have said, then I think that this episode is even worse in what it tells us about the mentality of some of our elected representatives.
November 22, 2011 at 11:59 PM
When Magee handed in over 6000 signatures and the basketballers handed in over 700, do people reckon that Burke checked every single signature? Ah shucks, I forget, Newton wasn’t mentioned in either of these like in this one, was he?
November 23, 2011 at 8:01 AM
The attempt to stop the petition was really stupid. The only thing it would have achieved would be not to be in the minutes. That’s not a big deal. These 3 would be better off thinking about what the petition says and the support it got from residents. That’s what I would be focusing on.
November 23, 2011 at 8:13 AM
Another nail in their electoral coffin! Rest in peace!