Divisions within Maroondah City Council are clearly apparent with four councillors (Les Willmott, Peter Gurr, Tony Dib and Natalie Thomas) continuing to deny Cr. Jo-anne Taylor from council’s committee appointments.

The Maroondah Journal has reported on this abhorrent act and the lack of debate that surrounded the motion to review:

Cr Alex Makin called for a review of Cr Taylor’s committee list for the council’s first meeting this year. Last Monday, the council maintained its decision to revoke Cr Taylor’s role on five committees

It is unfortunate that some councillors have denigrated Maroondah City Council through launching blatant personal attacks against other councillors and denying them the ability to represent council on committees.

Cr Makin said it was a “blatant personal attack on the councillor”.

The motion to review sought to reverse the decision made at last year’s council meeting to remove Cr. Jo-anne Taylor from representing council on the Maroondah Partners in Health, Safety and Well-being committee, Road Safe – Melbourne Eastern Ranges and the Municipal Association of Victoria.

Unfortunately the gang of four, consisting of Les Willmott, Peter Gurr, Tony Dib and Natalie Thomas, used their numbers to block this motion and any corresponding debate.

“I always saw the role of being a councillor as one where we build and support our communities so that we nurture a municipality that is filled with, as the new council slogan suggests, community lifestyle and opportunity.”

This action, led by those four councillors has confirmed that Maroondah City Council is currently divided, with several councillors more intent on protecting their own self interests and attacking others, than caring for the communities they are supposed to represent.

“The actions to strip Cr Taylor from the council’s delegated committees and boards results in the exact opposite. It simply tears down our communities as it denies them the opportunity through Cr Taylor to represent their concerns.”

I can only hope that the gang of four will represent Maroondah on these committees with as much vigour and passion as Cr. Jo-anne Taylor holds for her community.

The full transcript of the speech I delivered in support of the motion to review is as follows:

It is my understanding that this is the first motion to review in the history of the City of Maroondah and while such actions can be undertaken, I do hope that the divisiveness and mean-spiritedness that required such action does not occur again.

I always saw the role of being a Councillor as one where we build and support our communities so that we nurture a municipality that is filled with, as the new council slogan suggests, community, lifestyle and opportunity.

The actions to strip Cr. Taylor from council’s delegated committees and boards results in the exact opposite. It simply tears down our communities as it denies them the opportunity through Cr. Taylor to represent their concerns.

Cr. Taylor has specialised knowledge in topics such as emergency management and while emergency management is only often at the forefront when there is an incident, it is the planning and preparation that minimises the impact of such events. Cr. Taylors’ specialised knowledge is an asset on the Maroondah Partners in Health, Safety and Wellbeing committee as well as Roadsafe — Melbourne Eastern Ranges Inc.

Cr. Taylor’s experience in emergency management is one facet of her dedication and service to her community. It is this passion for her community that makes her an exceptional representative to the Municipal Association of Victoria.

All that is achieved by denying Cr. Taylor’s involvement is the tearing down of our communities.

It is has been alleged that this is a divided council. The outcome of this motion to review will determine whether this is fact and whether this council exists to support and build upon our communities or simply to tear them and our colleagues down.