Charity pay furore

By Melissa Meehan
MAYOR Pinar Yesil has refused to engage in “silly games” after a fellow councillor called on her to give her pay increase to charity.
Councillor Maria Sampey said the mayor, who voted against the councillors’ pay rise, should give her extra money to good causes.
She said that those who voted against the increase should have no problem donating the money.
The latest move comes after Cr Roz Blades told the Star she had already stopped claiming petrol expenses and would sign up for the Staff Giving Program at the City of Greater Dandenong in which council staff give some of their pay to charity. Last week the majority of councillors voted themselves a 34.38 per cent wage rise.
Councillors John Kelly, Roz Blades, Yvonne Herring and mayor Pinar Yesil opposed the increase.
Councillor Maria Sampey, who voted for the pay increase, said Cr Blades’s plans were only “lip service”.
“Why doesn’t she donate the whole $6000 increase rather than a percentage,” Cr Sampey said.
“She is only grandstanding.”
Cr Sampey said the mayor should donate her increase to the local benevolent societies.
“I’m sure both the Springvale and Dandenong Benevolent Societies wouldn’t say no to $15,000 each.”
Cr Yesil said she voted against the councillor increase because her ATA Reform Charter was diluted.
“I believe we should have demonstrated to the community that we were able to do that little bit extra for the community before receiving this significant increase in our allowance,” Cr Yesil said.
“Accepting an increase in the current financial circumstances, when so many of our residents are suffering, was also a concern for me.”
Answering to Cr Sampey’s demands, she said her fellow councillor was trying to deflect criticism away from herself in “these financial circumstances”. I’ll be happy to have the vote again,” Cr Yesil said.
“Council funds need to be distributed according to predetermined criteria by council, not sprayed around ad hoc by individual councillors.” Fellow councillor Jim Memeti praised Cr Blades for deciding to donate to local charities.
“It is a very good idea,” he said.
“I understand some councillors need the money but the ones who don’t should donate it to local groups.”
Cr Memeti was the first of the Greater Dandenong councillors to donate his pay increase to local community groups earlier this year.