Insults and accusations were traded at last week’s Melton council meeting as councillors Lara Carli and Kathy Majdlik found themselves at loggerheads.
The pair entered into heated debate over a number of issues, including a motion to write to Local Government Minister Tim Bull to present a case to reconsider legislation covering councillors abstaining from voting.
A report prepared by council officers reveals that since November, 2012, Cr Carli has abstained from voting seven times and Cr Broden Borg five times.
At the previous council meeting, Cr Majdlik said abstaining from voting was “not fair on the community”, to which Cr Carli responded by claiming her fellow councillor was “grandstanding” and trying to “gain political points”.
Last week, Cr Majdlik called on Cr Carli to publicly apologise for what she saw as a personal attack on her at the May 27 meeting and said Cr Carli was not adequately representing the residents of Watts ward.
“Abstaining from voting is like robbing the community of its voice … deep down inside you, you know it’s wrong,” Cr Majdlik said. “Every time you abstain, you are undermining them [the community] … it’s a cop-out.”
Cr Carli refused to apologise, saying she would not be muzzled.
“All you are attempting to do is embarrass me,” Cr Carli said.
Cr Borg said he understood abstaining from voting made it difficult for a motion to get passed.
“I don’t see it as a shirk of my duty; my record speaks for itself … I see it as a call of duty,” he said.
The motion regarding a letter to Mr Bull was eventually passed, despite councillors Carli and Borg voting against it.
A motion tabled by Cr Carli later in the evening calling for a letter to the state government advising that the council supports Daniel Andrews’ plans for Victorian councils to cap rate rises at the consumer price index was lost.
Cr Carli said capping rates at the CPI would mean the council would be forced to prioritise expenditure. She called on councillors to “show some compassion” for residents.
Cr Borg supported the motion, saying it would make the state government more “accountable”.
Cr Sophie Ramsey said Mr Andrews’ proposal wreaked of populism.
“Some people think voters are stupid,” she said.
“If you intend to cap rates, what investment does your government plan to give Melton?”
Mayor Bob Turner, Cr Nola Dunn, Cr Ramsey and Cr Majdlik voted against the motion.
