IN-fighting between Golden Plains Shire councillors has cost the organisation unconfirmed funds following an arbitration process held earlier this year.<\/p>\n
The investigation was carried out by an external arbiter after deputy-mayor Cr Gavin Gamble reported six claims of misconduct against Cr Les Rowe.<\/p>\n
With one incident later withdrawn, Cr Rowe was accused of breaching part of the Local Government (Governance and Integrity) Regulations 2020, which outlines appropriate councillor behaviour in performing their duties.<\/p>\n
Cr Gamble said the incidents all took place around the time of the municipality\u2019s mayoral election last year, and that he felt justified in seeking arbitration.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believed I was acting in the interest of good governance and the health and well-being of various people including myself,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe I tried to do the right thing by challenging, through the proper process, conduct I believed would not be countenanced in most workplaces.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cr Gamble said Cr Rowe \u201chas a history of refusal to engage in internal arbitration or to adopt a conciliatory approach.\u201d<\/p>\n
Yet Cr Rowe said the dispute should never have reached the arbitration process.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt should have been resolved internally,\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s right to use ratepayer\u2019s money to resolve councillor issues.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt should be brought up with the fellow councillor to resolve it. It shouldn\u2019t just go straight to arbiter for the councillor to find out from them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of the remaining five claims, all were dismissed except one in which Cr Rowe was found to have disrespected municipality CEO Eric Braslis during an email exchange.<\/p>\n
When Mr Braslis sent all councillors an email about the City of Ballarat\u2019s deputy-mayoral election Cr Rowe responded by telling Mr Braslis to \u201ckeep your snout out of the trough.\u201d<\/p>\n
The arbitration process resulted in a directions hearing on Monday, 6 March after which Cr Rowe explained his actions later that month.<\/p>\n
He was found to have acted inappropriately and required to provide a written apology to Mr Braslis, which was tabled during council\u2019s regular meeting on Tuesday last week.<\/p>\n
\u201cI respect the arbiter\u2019s decision,\u201d Cr Gamble said. \u201cI do believe it justifies the cost to ratepayers.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think this council has a problem with internal conflict no more so than any other councils I can see. We don\u2019t have a monitor so it\u2019s important for democracy that we don\u2019t get to that stage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cr Rowe said he also accepted the outcome.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs far as I\u2019m concerned, the umpire\u2019s decision\u2019s final,\u201d he said. \u201cOnly one out of the six incidences held any substance.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe bottom line is the CEO never had an issue with what I said. It came from a fellow councillor.<\/p>\n
\u201cI could have used my words more appropriately but you\u2019ve got to realise, I\u2019m a farmer in my normal life and that\u2019s the way I communicate.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know I probably need to improve on that. It also said in the arbitrator\u2019s decision that Cr Gamble should communicate a little more with councillors and myself, and I don\u2019t believe he does communicate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cr Gamble\u2019s other claims accused Cr Rowe of political strongarming over a bridge tender and an election endorsement, as well as showing disrespect by not applauding when Cr Gamble was elected deputy-mayor late last year.<\/p>\n
Another outlined incident also describes Cr Rowe sending a \u201creply-all\u201d email to all councillors, senior management and a council officer, the latter\u2019s inclusion of which goes against the municipality\u2019s interaction policy between councillors and staff.<\/p>\n
Cr Rowe claimed the inclusion of the council officer was accidental, which was accepted by the arbiter.<\/p>\n
Cr Gamble said Cr Rowe used his apology letter to take further swipes at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t happy with the letter he wrote where he continued attacking me,\u201d he said. \u201cI believe it was an inappropriate forum.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mayor Cr Brett Cunningham said the organisation will continue to strive for good governance amongst councillors.<\/p>\n
\u201cGolden Plains Shire council will continue to support councillors to provide good governance for the municipal community of Golden Plains,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201c[This is] including by upholding the standards of behaviour that are provided by the council\u2019s Code of Conduct and the Local Government Act 2020.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCouncil is yet to be provided with the full cost of the internal arbitration process.\u201d<\/p>\n
In his apology letter, Cr Rowe said the arbitration costed the municipality \u201capproximately $10,000.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
IN-fighting between Golden Plains Shire councillors has cost the organisation unconfirmed funds following an arbitration process held earlier this year. The investigation was carried out by an external arbiter after deputy-mayor Cr Gavin Gamble reported six claims of misconduct against Cr Les Rowe. With one incident later withdrawn, Cr Rowe was accused of breaching part […]<\/p>\n