RIVALS MAKE ME SICK
SURF COAST CONFLICT CLAIMS: Mayor gets Australia’s most bizarre doctor’s certificate
TOXIC infighting has led to Surf Coast councillors being told the Mayor has a doctor’s certificate that means he cannot be alone with them. Insiders have told the Geelong
Advertiser a council officer informed councillors that a third party acting as chaperone must be present if Mayor David Bell is to meet with certain rival councillors.
And the shocked councillors were told the Mayor had a medical certificate backing the bizarre order.
Ongoing tensions had become so bad at the seaside shire Cr Bell also blocked emails from some councillors, which must be vetted by a third party before he lays eyes on them, the sources said.
The council refused to comment on the doctor’s certificate claims and Cr Bell hung up on the Addy after threatening legal penalties against council insiders who speak out.
The accusations of “bizarre behaviour” by the Mayor come after the council held an emergency meeting last month to resolve their bitter divisions.
Internal relationships at Surf Coast Shire have been damaged by conflict over the flying of a rainbow flag outside shire headquarters to support same-sex marriage.
It is understood the Mayor’s medical certificate manoeuvre came after a litany of complaints were lodged against him by rival councillors after the emergency meeting.
TOXIC infighting has led to Surf Coast councillors being told the Mayor has a doctor’s certificate that means he cannot be alone with them.
Insiders have told the Geelong Advertiser a council officer informed councillors that a third party acting as chaperone must be present if Mayor David Bell is to meet with certain rival councillors.
And the shocked councillors were told the Mayor had a medical certificate backing the bizarre order. Ongoing tensions had become so bad at the seaside council Cr Bell also blocked emails from some councillors which must be vetted by a third party before he lays eyes on them, the sources said. The council refused to comment on the doctor’s certificate claims and Cr Bell hung up on the Addy after threatening legal penalties against council insiders who speak out. The accusations of “bizarre behaviour” by the Mayor come after the council held an emergency meeting last month to resolve their bitter divisions. Internal relationships at the Surf Coast have been damaged by conflict over the flying of a rainbow flag outside shire head- quarters to support same-sex marriage.
It is understood the Mayor’s medical certificate manoeuvre came after a litany of complaints were lodged against him by rival councillors after the emergency meeting.
An email from the Mayor to councillors and executive staff last week, and seen by the Addy, states: “Since we resolved to work together to address these issues, 10 Councillor Conduct complaints have been made against me by two councillors.
“They (the complaints) do include concerns about individual posts by others on social media, use of language and distribution of correspondence.”
When contacted by the Addy, Cr Bell refused to answer questions but did make a brief comment on the emergency meeting.
“While that is still a confi- dential meeting, I will not be making com- ment on it. Those who have ave been telling you things about it are breaking confidence ence and will be subject to the h f full ll penall ties of the law,” he said before hanging up.
In 2013 Cr Bell also cited a medical issue during a court hearing for his second driving while suspended charge.
The then-councillor pleaded guilty to driving while suspended only five days after a Geelong magistrate had suspended his licence for two months, citing a psychologist’s diagnosis.
“(A) psychologist diagnosed him with a dissociative episode due to the stress he was under,” lawyer Paul Reynolds said at the time.
Surf Coast Shire’s councillor infighting is understood to have stemmed from a decision to fly a rainbow flag in support of the legalisation of same-sex marriage last year, which was then reversed.
As a compromise, council spent about $6000 on new flagpoles, one of which would fly the rainbow flag indefinitely in support of same-sex marriage.
At the time councillor Heather Wellington said the flag debate had “caused incredible harm to relationships within the community and within council”.
Surf Coast Shire chief executive Keith Baillie yesterday said the council “will not comment on matters that are private and confidential”.