Liverpool Council has started 2016 with a bang – one of its councillors was kicked out of the first meeting of the year.
What was at times more slanging match than an orderly council meeting, it climaxed when Liberal councillor Peter Ristevski was sensationally expelled by the mayor – and fellow Liberal – Ned Mannoun.
“I am expelling you for the rest of the meeting,’’ was the mayor’s reply when Cr Ristevski asked how long he was being expelled for.
The rest of the councillors could only look on as Mayor Mannoun and Cr Ristevski engaged in a robust exchange about the legal merits of an urgency motion.
At times the exchange turned into a slanging match, with both interrupting each other.
Another Liberal councillor, Mazhar Hadid, intervened to forcefully remind Crs Mannoun and Ristevski they weren’t the only councillors at the meeting.
Cr Ristevski had proposed the urgency motion, in which he called for a vote of no confidence in both the council CEO, Mr Carl Wulff and the Mayor.
The mayor ruled the motion out of order as it dealt with a staff matter – the CEO.
Cr Ristevski then asked for a vote on a motion of dissent of the mayor’s ruling and this was duly passed by the council.
This was all happening as part of the debate on a rescission motion regarding plans to call for tenders for council’s cleaning contract.
Both the cleaning staff of council and their union are bitterly opposed to this move and some of them were in the chamber tonight.
They cheered when council supported the rescission motion tonight.
But when Cr Ristevski then again tried to have a vote on his no confidence motion, the mayor warned him that he was breaching procedural fairness rules.
When Cr Ristevski persisted, Mayor Mannoun stood up, told his Liberal colleague to stop interrupting him and then expelled him from the chamber.
The decision to go to tender for council’s cleaning services was made in December last year but it was proposed months before that and the staff have been fighting it ever since.
Council claims it could save up to $500,000 if it went to the market but that won’t happen now.
The trouble started when Cr Ristevski suggested savings could be found elsewhere, including getting rid of the mayor’s advisers.
Both the mayor and Mr Wulff rebuffed Cr Ristevski, saying that the mayor did not have any advisers.
Cr Ristevski told the South West Voice after the meeting that “this thing is far from over.’’
“There will be a few rescission motions lodged for the next meeting,’’ Cr Ristevski said.
I feel sorry for our ratepayers. Whilst I got expelled tonight, a motion was moved to spend over $50,000 to send certain Councillors to Japan and a further $15,000 to sponsor an event in Parramatta. This is a complete disgrace and the Minister of Local Government will be advised!!
Lucky we have one Councillor nor riding the gravy train at our expense,looks like certain people are going to make hay while the sun shines before the election.
And so he should have!!
Councillor Ristevski’s behaviour was embarrassing to the Council as a whole, but mostly to himself. Mayor Mannoun needs to be congratulated on the way he handled such blatant disrespect – with decorum and dignity.
Fiona get your facts right
Wow thanks for letting us all know how our hard earned money is spent Peter?
Liverpool Council = Joke
It would help Peter if you actually explained why councillors we’re going to Japan and why and what event was being sponsored. Ratepayers then have an idea as to whether the spending is legitimate . At the end of the day disclosure is the key.
Vic I suggest you come to the next Council meeting so you can make up your own mind
Yes fair point. I think councils should be more transparent . We need to publish everything that happens in council meetings in the local paper so the public know what is going on . Is there a process to get public discloure ? Just curious.
The media is pretty good at reporting what happens at Council
Here’s an example
http://m.smh.com.au/nsw/mayor-mannoun-denies-liverpool-liberal-jobs-a-case-of-nedpotism-20151114-gkz0uh.html
Thanks for that . It seems like there is a lot happening at council . Perhaps we can have a coffee one day and chat.!
my mobile is 0488927927
Thanks
Ned Mannoun is a joke. No experience at all. All he is good for is wasting our money.
Pack your bags Nader Mannoun,your time is up…#nedsgottago..#maatoukformayor