End council farce

ANOTHER day, another deplorable chapter of dysfunction from the Surf Coast Shire council.

This motley rabble was elected to serve the community but seem barely able to rise above the dysfunction of their mutual contempt.

In what should be a “people’s house” of the shire offices, there is no trust, no tolerance and certainly no perspective.

Minor incidents that in a functional organisation of respectful and professional adults would amount to nothing are amplified and reacted to as if they are declarations of war and opportunities for factional point scoring.

The issue of the Federal Government acting on gay marriage law reforms has been settled and yet the fire lit by that issue in the Surf Coast council rages on regardless.

The mayor and the council now do not even seem capable of responding to basic inquiries relating to how they are conducting themselves.

Several sources have reported that the Mayor, David Bell, has issued a directive that he cannot be alone with council rivals and that he has a medical certificate to back that up.

We should be sensitive to whatever Cr Bell’s medical condition is (so far he won’t say.) But if, for whatever reason, he is not suitably robust for the job of mayor, then he needs to relinquish that role.

If he needs medical leave he should take it.

If he needs a role with less pressure and less antagonism, he should avail himself of it.

But he should not put the good ratepayers of the Surf Coast through a farce where he holds on to power with white knuckles while insisting on unworkable protocols that many will find over-the-top and a little precious.

Being able to liaise and even disagree with your fellow councillors, even if they are partisan rivals, is a basic part of a mayor’s job.

Hiding behind a medical certificate and insisting on the presence of some kind of bureaucratic babysitter or supernanny are not appropriate solutions.