The minutes of December 14th, 2010 record the following comments by Cr Lipshutz in response to a public question–
“The second assumption is that one of my sons is a regular player of Frisbee and is a member of as you call it “the Frisbee group” There is no basis for you making that assumption. Once again as an exercise in intellectual dishonesty you make a leap in logic in assuming that as my son has played Frisbee in the park and that his name is on a facebook page that he is a regular and habitual member of this so called “Frisbee group” as you call it. I can only assume that you have been living under a rock and are unaware of Generation Y’s social networking. Facebook is a regular and usual system of social networking but the mere presence of a name on that site does not translate to my son or indeed any other person being a member of a group.
All answers to your questions have been dealt with honestly and in a responsive manner. ….Perhaps you could identify which if any Frisbee Group you are referring to and further provide some empirical evidence of any of my sons regularly playing Frisbee in such a group. You seem to think that by repeatedly making unfounded and wild accusations those assertion become true. You appear to be a follower of the Josef Goebbels school who said if you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it”.
COMMENT – these statements sound very much like a categorical denial of any official affiliation of Michael Lipshutz’s son (Josh) with any specific Frisbee group. There is the admission that Josh does play Frisbee, but that it is in a purely casual capacity. We beg to differ!
We urge all readers to carefully examine the following cached image of CP Frizza on Fridays. Readers will note that on the left hand side there are two categories – ‘Admins’ AND “Officers’. Each category has a hypertext link in the name of ‘Josh”. Clicking on this reveals that the ‘admin’ person and the ‘officer’ is none other than Josh Lipshutz – Cr. Lipshutz’s son!
Before anyone suggests that this affiliation may have occurred AFTER Cr. Lipshutz made his strident and insulting denial, we have seen cached versions of this and other pages which precede December 14th. One very early page in particular identifies Josh Lipshutz as a ‘member’ of this specific Frisbee group, despite Cr. Lipshutz’s categorical denials. Further, on the image provided above, one of the statements attributed to Josh Lipshutz clearly suggests his role is far greater than a mere occasional ‘social player’ of this regular Frisbee game.
If we are correct, then the only possible and logical conclusion would be that Lipshutz has mislead Council and has breached both the Local Government Act and the Councillor Code of Conduct.
PS: The current Frisbee page has made several changes – deleting the category of ‘Officers’ – but the link to Josh Lipshutz under ‘Admins’ still remains. See: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=37156836057#!/group.php?gid=37156836057&v=wall
Glen Eira Debates 
January 21, 2012 at 9:10 PM
What is it, wake-up time for you lot, Lipshutze is a practised propaganda artist in the Goebbels style. Just accept it, you prove nothing to him, by proving everything. He will just brush it off like every else that interferes with his twisted logic of being superior.
January 23, 2012 at 7:06 AM
Notice to all the people that do not like Cr. Lipshuttz. The group will be holding a meeting in the phone box in North Rd in the Ormond shopping centre. Limited space so be early. Next Saturday morning.
January 21, 2012 at 9:25 PM
Forgetting for a moment the main issue here of whether or not Lipshutz has lied about his son’s involvement in the frisbee affair, I’m plain disgusted with the tone and arrogance of this reply to a resident. Nobody in public office has the right to sink to this level of abuse. The arrogance of the man just has no limits – that’s pretty obvious.
January 21, 2012 at 10:05 PM
Nothing will happen to Lipshutz and he will be re-elected if he stands again. Vardovic is a serial pest. Good thing that he has gone away.
People breach the LGA all the time and nothing happens.
January 21, 2012 at 10:45 PM
People breach the LGA all the time and nothing happens. So this makes it alright does it? When a councillor sets out to deliberately deceive that says a lot about the calibre of person that is holding office. Varvodic may be a serial pest, but he’s got every right to question the cover ups that have been going on. Something is either right or wrong and its irrelevant whether the blighter gets away with it. As long as the story comes out then residents can make up their own mind whether this is the kind of person that should be voted back in. I as sure as hell won’t be giving him my vote.
January 22, 2012 at 1:05 AM
Mr Zarzoff or should I call you Terry, we went to school together at Caulfield North Central didn’t we?
I think the evidence presented here is pretty damning, lopsided and self explanatory. The question I pose to you is if a person brings this to the attention of council and residents, well can you demonstrate how that make them a serial pest?
You claim that he has gone away well I can tell you I see him most days and every week at soccer and he has gone nowhere. Maybe it’s the bullying and intimidation tactics used by council of threatening him with harassment that’s got his lips-shut. Who knows maybe you can come and ask him yourself 9am – 11am Sunday mornings Oval 2.
“People breach the LGA all the time and nothing happens” One it confirms you think a breach has occurred and secondly do you find it acceptable that nothing happens when these breaches take place?
You think he will get re-elected, you are probably right, but you don’t need to be Einstein to work out why and on whose coattails that will be on do you.
January 22, 2012 at 9:00 AM
Hey Mark relax, we’ll get the secret weapon Billy theHairdresser on to them. He just finished his TAFE Law certificate.
January 22, 2012 at 3:30 PM
You are right but I think Bluey or maybeRudi.were in your year at Caulfield North.
January 21, 2012 at 10:15 PM
Placing to one side Lipshutz’s customary ad hominem shots that is an incredibly weak response. It would have been taken to pieces had it been tested.
Let’s hope the Caulfield Glen Eira Leader, which is incredibly docile when it comes to Council matters, takes this matter up. It appears to me Lipshutz has a case to answer here and he’ll need to make a much better fist of it than the last time to save his skin.
For those interested Section 76BA(b) of the Local Government Act 1989 states a Councillor must:
“Act honestly and avoid statements (whether oral or in writing) or
actions that will or are likely to mislead or deceive a person;”
January 22, 2012 at 5:47 PM
Autonomy,
Your last quote from LGA is just astounding and looks like check mate. I don’t think there is any doubt at all that a breach has occurred and I think behind closed doors council acknowledge this.
But what happens now and who will investigate this matter?
January 21, 2012 at 11:08 PM
Shucks we’re supposed to believe that you’re not a member of any group when you’re listed as an officer and part of the admin. That would mean that Newton doesn’t exist either. Pull the other leg Lipshutz cos whatever comes out of your mouth is you know what. Resign now before the municipal inspector and the ombudsman makes you resign.
January 21, 2012 at 11:44 PM
Figure that the Goebel’s quote has got up and bitten Lipshutz on the arse. Unlike Goebbels he can keep repeating the same line all he likes but noone will swallow it. Lipshutz also needs to remember the old adage that pride comes before a fall.
January 22, 2012 at 8:35 AM
I find it fascinating that a council would make a comment like this one, knowing full well if investigated they would be hard pushed to defend such remarks. The tone of the comments are not acceptable either. But he does have a record of getting away with it too.
January 22, 2012 at 9:22 AM
A councillor’s son who organises games, is both an officer of the group and a responsible administrator of the facebook page and we’re asked to believe the rubbish that this poor soul is only a friend of the frisbee players and has nothing at all to do with them apart from the rare social visit to Caulfield Park. This is intellectual dishonesty, arrogance and a stuff the law attitude if I’ve ever seen one. Lipshutz has squirmed and squirmed to get out of this one with the help of his mates. If they’ve got any brains they’ll now drop him like a hot potato and let him face the music alone. Weasel words and insults won’t get him out of this fine mess.
January 22, 2012 at 9:41 AM
The last municipal inspector’s report provided a clear message to councillors that they needed to adhere in both word and actions to the principles of good governance. Honesty is an essential part of good governance, as is the injunction not to use one’s position in order to influence any outcome. From the evidence provided here I’d say that not only has Lipshutz disregarded these principles but his virulent attack on an individual exercising his rights is to be roundly condemned. “Intellectual dishonesty” from a councillor is repugnant to all fair minded people.
January 22, 2012 at 10:57 AM
Different folks seek office for different reasons, unfortunately some people seek office for power and subsequently power abuse. Sadly I put the councillor in question in this category. Which maybe would be Ok, on the tin-pot scale of politics in Glen Eira operates, providing this guy had a sense of humour or was the slight bit eloquent or educational with his manner, sadly he has no such charms. He’s just another small man with a axe to grind against non-existent ghosts of his imagination.
His mumbling rants have been of off-beat and frankly nonsensical, there is nothing there for anyone. He seems to have a similar psychology to some arsonists that set fires, so they can be “Johnny on the spot” to put them out, hoping they will be seen as a hero within their own ranks.
The residents who think they have to vote for this second rate character should revise there ideas of why and who they should vote for. This preposterous outdated man does no good in any position other that cause division and suspicion. These two thing we don’t need in Glen Eira.
January 22, 2012 at 12:25 PM
This is Gold how embarressing for him. A lot of people will be very happy he is falling on his sword. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer bloke. I’d resign before you get chopped.
January 22, 2012 at 12:50 PM
Come on down Mr Municipal Inspector, let’s see him weasel out of this one.
January 22, 2012 at 3:55 PM
Is this the greatest issue facing council???
Who cares if the kid plays frisbee for heavens sake, if his sin is to be admin on a facebook page then the world has gone crazy. Anybody can be placed as an admin on facebook page by the person creating it?
And maybe just maybe like so many other parents out their Cr Lipshutz has little idea about the workings of facebook. Let’s find something with a little more substance to be critical of.
I sometimes shake my head on some of the pettiness displayed on this site by some posters.
January 22, 2012 at 5:33 PM
Im sorry but you are way off the mark here and obviously don’t see the bigger picture, its not about kids just playing Frisbee. It’s about a Councillor being “intectually dishonest”, and also allowing his son to play without permission or a permit whilst all these other social groups are forced to get permits. How can you defend that and say its acceptable, and more importantly what else is this Council being deceitful about?
January 23, 2012 at 11:43 PM
Kids need to get permits to throw a frisbee. The World has gone crazy!!!
January 22, 2012 at 5:39 PM
Noely,
If you aren’t fussed about whether Councillors’ behave ethically and squarely then it is of little consequence. However, there are those of us who attach great weight to those qualities and who are concerned at any circumstance where they may be compromised.
January 22, 2012 at 5:46 PM
No, you’re right! Frisbee isn’t the greatest issue facing council. It’s just symptomatic of everything that’s wrong with this council, and that’s its governance. When both administrators and councillors believe they can get away with blue murder then we’re in real trouble. When administrators and councillors refuse to answer truthfully, or resort to little white lies, or selective memory when it suits, then we’re in real trouble. When residents can’t get a straight answer after trying for months and months, then we’re in real trouble. When inspection after inspection finds fault and nothing is done then we’re not only in real trouble, but we’re on a hiding to nothing. If this post has revealed anything, it’s told people that trust should be withheld and that weasel words will not be tolerated as a replacement for accountability, honesty, and respect.
January 22, 2012 at 5:58 PM
Well said Anon couldn’t agree more, I think the personal comments are way over the top too bordering on insulting.
January 22, 2012 at 5:30 PM
The issue here is credibility, I always thought he had none, so what’s changed. For a lot of people like me it’s a null issue that will sink like a stone into the pond of who gives a f**k
January 22, 2012 at 5:53 PM
This Councillor Lipshitz has been so arrogant for years so you know the saying about he made is own bed, well…..
January 22, 2012 at 6:00 PM
Someone’s been caught with their pants down telling little white porky’s
January 22, 2012 at 6:54 PM
Every “achievement” that one can put down for Lipshutz is truly anti community. There’s the C60 and racecourse. The reappointment of the CEO and establishing a special committee I’d bet my life was pushed as hard as hell by Lipshutz. Next, the carparking extension at gesac. The “no surprises” clause that he first tried to get in years ago and only succeeded at the second attempt. The list is endless. This man in my view has done nothing for the residents of Glen Eira except sell them out at every possible opportunity. Tell everyone you meet or speak with. He must be booted out together with his cronies.
January 22, 2012 at 7:49 PM
He might jump before he gets booted, I betya his fellow councillors are trying to distance themselves from this one so they can save their own skin.
January 22, 2012 at 10:04 PM
Last election, it was Pehalluriacks preferences that got him over the line. What a mistake that was by Penhalluriack in trusting Lipshutz. He wont get the preferences next time and even the local Jewish community is sick of him (along with the rest of Camden ward). I hope he does run so he can be embarrassed and leave without opening his pet project GESAC.
January 22, 2012 at 10:20 PM
Lipshutz demanded “empirical evidence”. Here it is in spades. The name of the group is CPFrizza on Fridays. This is a regular “organised” game. The “Admin” and “Officer” is the son. That’s more than just using a “social networking” site as part of the Y generation. Now whether or not this is a legal issue and infringes on the local government act, I don’t know. I’m damn sure though that Lipshutz’s behaviour doesn’t earn any brownie points in the ethics that are demanded of councillors.
January 23, 2012 at 8:29 AM
Mr Zarzoff,
Over the last few months you have been very vocal and well lubricated in the jaw line region, for some reason you were asked a question but appeared to have now seized up and gone a bit rusty so I’ll try this time.
I admit I am a habitual and regular player with the group concerned so you know what side if the fence I sit on.
a) Can you define a serial pest as you call it?
b) I’ll have to speak in hypothetical here as unfortunately I don’t know your personal status. With particular reference to good governance and council operating with integrity may I ask you the following question please. Do you find it acceptable that one rate payers son (councilor) be allowed to play every week without a permit, whilst other rate payers sons (including your son) be required to get permits and insurance or they will be fined?
I have personally seen the written threat from council and it’s not a hoax.
January 23, 2012 at 8:58 AM
Where is Neil and Jim?
January 23, 2012 at 10:16 PM
In fairness, ALL the Councillors should be called to account on this matter, not merely Pilling and Magee. The integrity of ALL is at stake here too. There is an alleged breach of the Local Government Act of the most serious kind. We know Hyams is a Lipshutz lapdog so we can’t expect an objective assessment from him. But what of Esakoff, Penhalluriack, Tang, Lobo and Forge, as well as Magee and Pilling?
Let’s not forget the important civic role played by the Caulfield Glen Eira Leader either which has hitherto been little more than an apologist for the Council. What about performing the role you are meant to and hold this Councillor to account in addition to getting other Councillors to declare their positions?
January 23, 2012 at 9:11 AM
You guys are 100% right, but he will just laugh this one off as usual, after all this is all driven by (MODERATORS: word deleted).
January 23, 2012 at 11:08 AM
These councillors are not stupid, they know they are in a pickle here. It’s how they get out of it that now intrigues me.
January 23, 2012 at 11:34 AM
This has got to a disgraceful stage where something that should have been sorted out a year ago has been allowed to fester and now looks like there are some shady things going on. I blame Lipshutz and his gang for allowing this to drag on and escalating the situation. If council had worked properly at the start, taken the complaints seriously and tried to sort things out then we would never have got to this stage. I put it down to sheer arrogance by Lipshutz and council as a whole. They always work on the premise that they are always right and that they will never apologise or admit that they have made a mistake. Lipshutz is in charge of the local law committee. If the local law governing unauthorised groups is lousy then it should have been changed.
But nothing so simple ever happens in this council. Instead we have got to the point where residents are abused and said to be harassing council because they want answers to their problems. It goes back to secrecy and not caring a fig for residents. In the meantime things stay the same. People play without permits whilst others have to pay and get fined. It also looks like it sure helps if your family is part of the group that doesn’t pay for a permit. The result of all this is a breakdown in public confidence and worse. I remember the doctoring of minutes as a cover up to what really goes on in meetings and the ultimate abuse of residents is stopping them asking questions. That’s not on in any democracy. Nor is the way most of the allowed public questions are answered.
January 23, 2012 at 12:37 PM
Couldn’t agree more and the arrogance of this mob is extraordinary.
January 23, 2012 at 1:26 PM
Since we all know that decisions aren’t made in public then the catchcry of Lipshutz and Tang that they were exonerated by the last municipal inspector’s report on conflict of interest is worthless. Sure, no formal decision has been brought before council, but their involvement with friends and family members and their role as councillors should have resulted in a declaration of conflict of interest in the interests of openness and transparency. These guys however just want to hide behind the legal loopholes of the legislation in spite of the reality that decisions are for sure made in assembly meetings. I could at least stomach all this if we were told that both of them had at some point in time declared a conflict of interest. That would have been the end of the story. Instead we’ve got this days of our lives soap opera that is a result of nothing more than their damn arrogance and refusal to take responsibility for their stuff ups. Other councillors should also hang their heads in shame for keeping their traps shut on this abuse.
January 23, 2012 at 4:26 PM
Spot on here Anon, what where the other Councillors doing while this cover up was being undertaken. Were they blissfully unaware (which raises other issues) or where they deliberately part of this cover up which is even worse?
January 24, 2012 at 2:06 AM
Hard to believe the blind eyes which are out on Fridays to allow this group more or less unlimited access for their frisbee game when other groups of footballers from ORMOND AND ANOTHER CLUB ATTENDED TO THE VACANT DUNCAN McKinnon oval on just one night and both were fined over $600.00. The Glen Eira COUNCIL made the rule about gatherings of more than six something like the Tolpuddle Martyrs not us. Don’t we often read of poor working fathers complaining that they are ordered off ovals when just having a small kick with their YOUNG sons after work. Yes it is such a shame and a sham that Cr lIPSHUTZ WAS ALLOWED SO MUCH POWER THIS YEAR!!! C60, THE PIP OF THE RACECOURSE , THE 7 LOT SUBDIVISION AND GIFT OF CROWN LAND TO THE BELOVED MRC THE OVERTAKING OF THE AREA FOR TWO HOUSE SITE AREAS FOR PARKING AT GESAC AND OF COURSE GESAC ITSELF.
Cr LIPSHUTZ Have you ever walked pushing a pram with a toddler from the closest hard rail to the site of GESAC.? It is like walking from Caulfield to Murrumbeena .. no-one is going to do it.
And oh the $1.4 million in damage compensation is a joke … season missed… year’s interest… it is pin money. PULL THE OTHER LEG ABOUT IT SAVING MONEY Cr LIPSHUTZ
January 24, 2012 at 8:18 AM
At the time of Cr Lipschutz’ extraordinary response, Cr Penhalluriack did speak up and say he was unhappy with the aggressive tone of the response to a constituent. He, like the rest of us, struggle with how to regulate councillor and council behaviour. Its one reason why I didn’t and still don’t support 4-year terms–we need more frequent opportunities to remove people that have lost interest in good governance.
As for the Municipal Inspector’s report, that was a far from impressive document. Any time you read something like “there is no evidence” or (much more guarded) “there is no admissible evidence” people rightfully should be suspicious. The report basically acknowledged what the rest of us knew, which is that Council falls well short of the Objectives contained in LGA, due in part to the behaviour and personalities of the councillors. Matters continue to deteriorate, so it looks like it was a waste of time for the Inspectorate to be so accommodating. You’d have to say there’s also a question-mark over the Inspectorate itself, since it chose to describe the doctoring of Minutes (designed to remove evidence of impropriety) as “removing excessive detail”.