By Alesha Capone
New Wyndham mayor Peter Maynard has warned he will not “condone personal attacks” in the chamber and another councillor has condemned a “disgusting” comment made during a meeting last week.
Councillor Maynard was elected as the municipality’s mayor on Wednesday, November 17, with six votes from his fellow councillors.
Cr Maynard will preside over the council for the next 12 months, with Cr Jasmine Hill as deputy mayor.
Outgoing mayor Cr Adele Hegedich was commended by other councillors for her “respectful” and “stabilising” performance across the past year.
However, the council meeting descended into “shambles” and “a joke”, according to Cr Josh Gilligan, who proposed a motion relating to a community safety portfolio advisory committee.
During this process, Cr Maynard asked Cr Gilligan to refrain from making potentially critical comments.
“There’s going to be no character assassination irrespective of whether names are mentioned or not,” Cr Maynard said.
Cr Heather Marcus, who is serving her fifth term on council, questioned how the council would “get through the next 12 months”.
She said: “Well, I think I might as well retire right now.”
Cr Sahana Ramesh also described a separate remark made by Cr Marcus as “disgusting”.
In state Parliament last month, western metropolitan MP Bernie Finn described Wyndham as a “classic example” of “bad local governments”.
“I have looked back in stunned amazement at the city of Wyndham as its councillors have brawled and have put their own personal agendas and catfights ahead of the welfare of the people of that municipality,” Mr Finn said.
“I have often called for the council to at least be held accountable if not sacked by the government, but of course that has not happened, which is a great pity and not surprising.”
In July, three former Wyndham mayors – Henry Barlow, Pat Goodwin and Kim McAliney – called for a monitor to be appointed to Wyndham council.
