Sanction councillors in arrears

YOUR report “Arrears shame” of August 3, regarding councillors and municipal staff who are in arrears with their municipal accounts, struck a chord with me – a disconcerting chord, but a chord nevertheless.

Public representatives who are unable to manage their personal finances will certainly lack the skills necessary to manage the town.

Another point of concern is: what do these delinquent councillors do when the town council discusses arrear debts? Do they do the honourable thing and recuse themselves to avoid a conflict of interest, or do they sit smugly in the guilty knowledge that they are contravening their oath of office?

I trust that the Speaker will do her duty and ask councillors in arrears to leave the chambers, when next the matter is discussed.

I am also dumbfounded, and dumbstruck by the dumb-headed proposal that municipal staff be offered loans to help them pay their arrears. Talk about throwing good money after bad.

As a pensioner and a ratepayer who pays his accounts on time every time, I object to my rates and taxes being used to fund those who, though in gainful employment, are so lacking in civic responsibility they do not pay for the services they use. It is high time these miscreants were taken by the scruff of their necks and shown their duty, if not the door.