Council apologises for comment

By Paul Dunlop
CARDINIA Shire Council has apologised if any residents were offended by comments mayor Bill Ronald made at the opening of the Emerald Library earlier this year.
Councillors at their meeting last week unanimously approved a motion that served to douse the flames of a controversy that had flared between Cr Ronald and Emerald ward representative Graeme Legge.
At Cr Legge’s request, it was resolved that: “In regard to comments made by the mayor in the opening of the Emerald Library, council advises that no offence was intended by quoting extracts from Hansard and the local media, however if any offence was taken council apologises for any such offence.”
The move followed earlier attempts by Cr Legge to take the mayor to task over comments made about the previous council at the ceremony to officially open the library in July.
Cr Legge said at the September meeting that Cr Ronald’s remarks had prompted concern among several of his constituents.
Cr Legge said he believed Cr Ronald’s comments contravened the councillors code of conduct which requires them to, among other things, ‘treat each other and all members of the community with respect, honesty and fairness and in a way which does not cause offence or embarrassment to individuals or groups’.
The issue was back before council last week after Cr Legge’s bid to settle the issue at the September meeting fell flat when he could not get support from colleagues to raise it during urgent business.
He returned to the October meeting with three motions on the issue. The first two would have seen the matter taken further but these were not discussed.
Instead, councillors approved his final motion, seconded by Cr Kate Lempriere, without discussion.
Cr Ronald made no comment either last week or at the September meeting in response to Cr Legge’s claims.
The only public exchange between the pair on the issue came after the motion was adopted, when Cr Ronald refused Cr Legge’s request for a division.
“It’s unanimous, Cr Legge, you don’t need a division,” he said.