Cr Ebbels to take deputy role

A FORMER Queenscliffe mayor has been appointed as the Borough’s newest deputy following a shock resignation.

Councillor Ross Ebbels has accepted the role as deputy mayor for the Borough of Queenscliffe, after being nominated at the ordinary meeting held in late July.

Chief Executive Officer Martin Gill said the mid-year review was due to a recent change in council members.

“It’s usually every November we do a review of portfolio delegations and election of mayors and deputy mayors but with the recent resignation of Cr [Fleur] Hewitt and with Cr [Rob] Minty coming on board we needed to do a review,” he said.

Cr Ebbels was nominated by Mayor Isabelle Tolhurst and received unanimous support from fellow councillors.

“The role of deputy mayor is certainly to support the mayor and it is important that we have a good working relationship with mayor and councillors,” he said.

“I am always willing to step in and help the mayor if necessary.”

Cr Ebbels has served as a member of council since 2016 and as the mayor between 2019 and 2022.

The change comes after Cr Hewitt handed in her resignation in May, having served as a councillor for two and a half years, as well as holding the position as deputy mayor for one and half years.

Cr Hewitt’s position as a member of council was replaced by Cr Minty, who was elected in June.

Further changes made at the July meeting include the shuffling of the health and wellbeing portfolio, with Cr Minty to take over from Cr Donnie Grigau.

Cr Grigau will now be responsible for the governance and finance portfolio.

Councillor appointments and portfolios are set to be reviewed again in November.