Some Edward River councillors have disputed comments from their Mayor Peta Betts, in which she claims she has not been asked to step aside from the top job while campaigning for the state seat of Murray on behalf of the Nationals.
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The Pastoral Times last week posed the question to Ms Betts on speculation that “there was a request from councillors that you do stand down as mayor (while campaigning)”.
In response to that question, Cr Betts said a simple “no”.
Three councillors have refuted this since the article went to print in Friday’s edition.
They say perceived conflicts of interest and concerns for political neutrality have indeed been raised with the mayor.
The Pastoral Times has seen a letter addressed to Cr Betts from Councillor Shirlee Burge in which she recommends the mayor stand down until after the election.
Written at the same time council was to answer to legal processes started by former governance advisor Greg Briscoe-Hough in the Supreme Court over alleged breaches of the Local Government Act, Cr Burge wrote “I am giving you the option to step away from your mayoral duties until after the election prior to us calling for an extraordinary meeting of ERC to address issues that have come to light over the break period”.
Councillors Harold Clapham and Pat Fogarty have also told the Pastoral Times that concerns about the mayor holding the seat while campaigning were also raised during a council workshop - a closed meeting of councillors and staff held regularly to discuss items before they come to a formal council meeting.
“It certainly was tossed around and put to Peta that it might be in her best interest, and council’s best interest (that she step aside while campaigning)” Cr Fogarty said.
“One reason is the time factor, second was the broader appeal for people.
“Peta is very confident that she has had good feedback about this, but to me there is a conflict of interest.
“One of the strong elements of Robbie Sefton’s report was that it is important for council to remain politically neutral for the growth strategy to fly and to get where we wanted to go.
"Peta standing for The Nationals does certainly put that in a different perspective.“
Cr Clapham said as those January workshop discussions continued, he urged council to reach out to Labor to visit the region ahead of the election.
He further stated that any correspondence as such should come form Deputy Mayor Paul Fellows.
“This issue has come up and was talked about, and there are councillors who believe she (the mayor) is conflicted,” Cr Clapham said.
“In that same council briefing I asked whether ERC had reached out to the ALP.
“There is every possibility we will be dealing with a Labor Government after this election, and for that reason this community and council should be speaking with the ALP.”
Cr Burge said council is already “behind” on a number of items due to the late councillor elections (due to COVID) and then the flood response, and said the mayor’s schedule with campaigning is further impeding progress.
She said the minimum commitment for councillors is one workshop and one public meeting a month, but councillors are having to attend at least three. She believes this is partly to fit in with Cr Bett’s campaigning commitments.
Cr Burge said she also has concerns about political neutrality, and how council will operate if she remains mayor if elected.
“Mayor Betts is standing for the National Party, so it makes it extremely difficult to liaise with opposition political parties,” Cr Burge said.
“I believe that the mayor, whilst running for state government, has a conflict of interest in this arena.
“It is why I asked her, via email, to stand aside while she campaigned and resume her mayoral role after the election if she is unsuccessful.
“In the event that she is the new member for Murray, then the dual role will need to be accepted by all councillors and not just assumed by the mayor that it is possible.
“If the New South Wales Parliament is sitting for two weeks then who leads council?
“We can step the deputy mayor up, but then is it fair to them not to be the mayor if they are filling that role more often than not.
“I personally believe it is a selfish request and would certainly vote against it.”
Based on the comments from Crs Burge, Fogarty and Clapham, the Pastoral Times approached Cr Betts again about the matter.
In her response, Cr Betts said she believed she was being asked by the Pastoral Times if the matter of her standing aside has been raised in an open committee of council.
She also reiterated her position on remaining mayor while campaigning.
“My response in our interview was in the context of whether this has been raised formally in council at a meeting, where all councillors have an opportunity to be part of an open and transparent conversation and process or vote,” Cr Betts said.
“That was my understanding of the question, and the response remains the same: there has been no consideration by the council as to whether the governing body considers it appropriate, or otherwise, for me to continue as mayor whilst I campaign.
“It remains open for councillors to present business at a council meeting in accordance with the meeting code of practice for this or any other matter.
“There was an opportunity for councillors to do this at the council meeting held last Tuesday and this did not happen.
“I think it would be prudent to ask the question as to why councillors, holding closed, private meetings, did not bring it to the table when they had the chance to do so?
“In answer to your question as to why I have chosen to remain mayor whilst campaigning, I am confident that I can continue to campaign and be mayor concurrently as I have excellent support from my Nationals team and my deputy mayor and the majority of other councillors.”
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