Mount Alexander Shire’s new mayor said its councillors are unified and strong as they look to move on from a fractious same-sex marriage debate.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The shire’s former mayor Sharon Telford resigned earlier this month, closely followed by another councillor, Tony Bell.
In explaining his departure, Mr Bell said shire staff undermined council’s decision not to fly a rainbow flag in support of the LGBTIQ community by putting rainbow flags in the windows of council buildings.
Mr Bell, who was a representative in the Castlemaine ward, also alleged some of the behaviour by council staff directed at Ms Telford “had been disgraceful and bordering on harassment”.
Ms Telford has provided no public explanation for her departure.
The shire’s new mayor Bronwen Machin said Mr Bell’s bullying claims were unfounded.
“There were no claims of bullying and we have complete faith in our CEO that they will be handled accordingly if they do happen,” she said.
Council voted 4:3 against the motion to fly a rainbow flag atop a council building in September, instead passing an alternative motion to convene a round table with health partners and local representatives or organisations from the LGBTIQ community by December.
The decision sparked some “rather vile things on social media”, Cr Machin said, suggesting feedback to councillors became “very personal”.
“Some of it became very nasty and it makes it very difficult for somebody who is targeted - it doesn't help change, it doesn't build trust,” she said.
Community engagement before the vote could have been more extensive but it was impractical given the timeline, Cr Machin conceded.
“For a council to go to consultation you need weeks of engagement,” she said.
"Change happens at the speed of trust and trust takes years with some issues."
Councillors were aware of the motion that was to be put forward by councillor John Nieman at the September meeting, and they did their best to ensure the view of ratepayers in their wards were represented in the vote, she said.
However councillor Machin said engagement with local disability action groups had taken eight years to foster good relations, and longer still with the Indigenous community.
Council would press ahead with its four-year community plan and supporting its ratepayers, she said.
A by-election to replace Ms Telford in the Tarrengower ward is expected to be held in early 2018, while the Victorian Electoral Commission will hold a countback on November 20 to fill Mr Bell’s vacancy in the Castlemaine ward.
