By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
GREATER Dandenong Mayor Angela Long has rejected calls to resign after refusing to answer persistent questioning on an alleged legal probe she launched against two fellow councillors.
At last night’s council meeting, Cr Long claimed confidentiality as she refused to reply to each of a withering series of a dozen questions from the floor from councillors Peter Brown and Maria Sampey – the subjects of the probe.
After Cr Long declined to answer two of Cr Brown’s questions, Cr Brown said: “I’m asking you to resign right now.
“You’re asking for confidentiality to which you’re not accorded.”
“I won’t comment on that,” Cr Long said.
The grilling continued.
Cr Brown asked what “provision of the Local Government Act” provided her the right not to answer questions due to confidentiality.
Cr Long refused to comment.
Cr Brown said: “You’re refusing to be open and honest in your answers… ”
Cr Long responded: “I won’t answer any more of these questions.”
“How much have you committed council to spend on legal advice against Cr Sampey and myself?” Cr Brown said.
Again Cr Long played a straight bat.
“Can I expect your resignation now, Cr Long?”
“Definitely not.”
Crs Brown and Sampey claimed the mayor sent them a letter in May telling them that they would be investigated over their conduct in seeking the demolition of a steep mound under a footpath at Princes Highway and Racecourse Road, Noble Park, in April.
They claim the letter insisted that the subsequent investigations – undertaken by M+K Lawyers and then by local governance consultants CT Management – were confidential and could not be publicly discussed.
Cr Long, however, privately briefed “two new councillors” on the probe the day after receiving the letter, the councillors claimed.
Crs Sampey and Brown also claimed the investigations were sparked by a council officer’s complaint though there had been no formal workplace safety claim made by the officer.
“What evidence was provided to Macpherson and Kelley Lawyers except that the council officers’ feelings were hurt?” Cr Sampey said.
Cr Sampey claimed the mayor launched the investigation without “the (other) councillors’ authority”.
“I’ve had legal advice that the letter (citing confidentiality) is of no value,” she said.
“I wasn’t allowed the same legal rights as you (Cr Long).
“I was told by (chief executive) John Bennie that I had to pay for my own legal representation.”
After Cr Long refused to comment to the fourth question during the tense exchange, Cr Sampey said: “This is rubbish.”
“That is your opinion,” Cr Long flatly replied.
During the interrogation, chief executive John Bennie declined to disclose whether a council officer had made a “formal complaint under the Occupational Health and Safety Act”.
Mr Bennie said legal privilege applied, that it would be “non-productive” to discuss the investigation reports at the meeting and that the confidential matter would be discussed by councillors at a future meeting.
“All details will be given in due course.”
Cr Brown said his and Cr Sampey’s views about the footpath mound were justified by the findings of an independent audit and council officers’ report in May.
The audit found the footpath’s gradient didn’t comply with disability standards as well as a litany of flaws about other sections of the footpath.
Councillors that month voted for the mound’s demolition at a cost of about $15,000.
