Those present at the meeting almost unanimously supported resolutions I put forward suggesting that evidence of illegal behavior by Shire employees and others should be reported to the appropriate authorities, rather than swept under the carpet.
Motions passed at the AGM are automatically placed on the Council agenda for its next meeting.
As I told the councillors, who all sat meekly and mute during the meeting, this is something they should have done themselves almost a year ago when I brought these matters to their attention.
The motions passed at the AGM were as follows;
That Council instruct
the CEO to refer to the Corruption and Crime Commission for investigation the
allegation of theft of building material (steel beams) from the Council Depot
by a senior works employee, as reported by former Council employee Kevin Edsell
in November 2014.
That Council instruct
the CEO to refer to the Department of Environmental Regulation for
investigation the cutting down in 2014 of a jarrah tree at the rear of the
Council Depot by Shire employees without a clearing permit.
That Council instruct
the CEO to prepare a written report for presentation to the March meeting of
Council on the construction by Council staff of a recreation deck at the rear
of the Council Depot building explaining why a building permit was not
required, and that this report be incorporated in the council meeting minutes.
That Council instruct
the CEO to refer to the Department of Environmental Regulation for
investigation the cutting down in December, 2015 of a jarrah tree on the road
reserve alongside the property at 7 Sittella Lane.
The first three relate to matters aired at the Council meeting in March last year and earlier reported to the then Shire President Tony Pratico by former Shire works staff employee Kevin Edsell, who was hounded out of his job after blowing the whistle to Mr Pratico.
The final motion relates to a recent complaint made to Council staff by a ratepayer. He told them a neighbour had cut down a large jarrah tree on Council land, falling it into his own property and then proceeding to cut it up for boards. The complainant was told that Shire rangers had investigated but decided to take no action because the offender had apologised!
That's almost as outrageous as Cr Pratico's explanation for why no action was taken against a senior staffer who stole building material from the Shire depot - because when it was investigated, he had returned the items.
We really are living in the Wild West down here.
It will be fascinating to see how the councillors treat these motions when they come before them on Thursday, February 25.
They may decide to employ a tactic used a couple of years ago when some items were carried forward to Council from an AGM of electors, which was to refuse to 'move' or 'second' the items, so they simply lapsed without debate.
But surely, even this bunch of ostriches would not oppose the referral of possible unlawful acts to the appropriate authorities? Would they?
