Richardson reprimanded

By Jim Mynard
CASEY Council has directed its Four Oaks Ward councillor Paul Richardson to undertake intensive, focused and specific training and education in occupational health and safety matters relevant to his role.
The council directed that his training be sourced and funded through his allocated funds for training and education.
This was recommended by the council’s in camera committee on Tuesday, 15 August and ratified by the full council on Wednesday 4 August.
The decision was in response to an executive services officer report before the in camera committee meeting headed ‘to advise councillors of recent incidents of concern’.
The committee recommendation was to formally reprimand Cr Richardson in respect to intimidatory and bullying behaviour towards council staff on a number of occasions, and advises that such action places him in jeopardy of personal liability under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
The committee noted that Cr Richardson had given an undertaking that similar incidents would not recur.
The committee also formally reprimanded Cr Richardson in respect of his actions in deliberately setting up a media event to seek to embarrass the council, as such actions are in direct conflict to the spirit of the council’s councillor code of conduct that seeks to protect the image of the council.
Cr Richardson said the in camera decision resulted from moves by other councillors to get him off the council.
“I didn’t do anything to warrant the motion,” he said.
“It goes back to when I decided to pay a $100 fine to the council in coins.
“This results from lies told by the councillors and staff and it has all been exaggerated in an effort to ridicule me in front of my constituents.
“They want me off the council so they can get someone who will see things their way,” he said.