By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
“It is unfortunate the way the council will be seen from the way we’ve acted tonight.”
Those were the words of Greater Dandenong councillor Roz Blades during a tumultuous council debate last night over an investigation report into Crs Peter Brown and Maria Sampey’s conduct.
In a repeat of the last council meeting’s confrontation, Cr Brown once again called for mayor Angela Long’s resignation – and this time chief executive John Bennie’s head as well.
Cr Long and Mr Bennie had jointly launched the “private and confidential” investigation by consultants CT Management in May alleging the councillors caused council staff to feel “hurt and distressed” over a botched footpath in Noble Park.
Since then, councillors have not read the investigation report but had received its findings – none of which has been publicly released.
For the past month, Crs Brown and Sampey have pushed for the release of the report.
Last night, the council resolved that only councillors could view a redacted version of the “legally privileged” report in a “designated place” and “designated time”.
The redactions – which will remove information that will identify the parties – would be prepared by M+K Lawyers. No copies of any part of the report can be made.
The matter simmered from the first question.
Responding to a question from Cr Brown, Cr Long told the meeting she had not yet read the report.
Cr Long then declined to answer Cr Brown’s follow-up questions on the investigation’s cost.
She argued the questions related to personal and legal matters, and to the urgent business item to be discussed later that meeting.
“I understand it cost between $12,000 and $14,000,” Cr Brown retorted.
“Why haven’t you read it since you commissioned it?”
Cr John Kelly interjected: “This is a personal attack.”
“It’s fine when you’re not being attacked, Cr Kelly,” Cr Brown replied.
“This isn’t the appropriate place to air your laundry,” Cr Kelly said.
“Let’s be calm and collected here. It is a personal attack on individuals in the public arena.”
Cr Brown then publicly tabled copies of emails he sent to councillors and council staff during the footpath saga up until the investigation, thumping down paperwork dramatically in front of Cr Long.
“I challenge anyone in this room to formulate in their mind why a private investigation was initiated.”
Questions on the matter were then forbidden.
Cr Sampey – who tried to ask why informal mediation wasn’t used to settle the dispute instead of a private and confidential investigation – said: “So we’re going to be gagged.”
“No one has gagged you,” Cr Kelly said. “I can read the (news)papers.”
Cr Roz Blades advised the council was “better discussing (the issue) in private in an open and honest manner”.
“So we can be accused, hung, drawn and quartered and no one gives a shit,” Cr Sampey said.
Cr Brown at one stage rejected Cr Blades’s attempts to pacify him by warning him about his health.
Cr Brown, who claimed his blood pressure soared dangerously during the investigation, said: “I’ve been ill for months.”
Cr Brown called on Cr Long and Mr Bennie to resign.
“I’m not going to,” Cr Long replied
