By Ruza Zivkusic
IT took nearly 45 minutes for Brimbank City Councillors to decide whether a letter of congratulation should be sent to the Australian Bosnian Islamic Centre in Deer Park for the opening of the centre.
Cr Troy Atanasovski, who praised the event that occurred two weeks ago, was interrupted by Cr Ken Capar, who put an amendment adding his endorsement to the message of congratulation, which Mayor Cr Margaret Giudice described as “very unusual”, saying it was the first time that she had seen it happen.
The amendment was followed by numerous points of order from councillors. Cr Miles Dymott said Cr Capar was “making mockery” of the council, and Cr Sam David added that the amendment was “ridiculous”.
The president of the Sunshine Residents and Ratepayers Association (SunRAA), Darlene Reilly, said Cr Natalie Suleyman and her “faction” (including Councillors Ken Capar, Jenny Barboza, Anthony Abate and Marilyn Zukalski) were acting like “spoiled children”.
“It’s a shame that our council took nearly an hour to get through congratulations because of interjections and amendments to the wording of the congratulations,” Ms Reilly said.
“We’re wondering why they’re behaving this way because if it does continue it’s quite possible that council would be sacked and we certainly don’t want that,” she added.
In response, Cr Suleyman said it was “great” that councillors were exercising their obligation on behalf of the residents, adding that “it would be nothing than boring sitting on the floor and putting up a hand to speak”.
“The meeting procedures are there to be used and exercised,” Cr Suleyman said.
“At one point SunRAA were stating that councillors said nothing during council meetings and we were criticised for that.
“Now you’ve got active councillors that are standing up and talking on behalf of the council,” she added.
Cr Giudice said she was not confused during the meeting, if that was intended by some of the councillors to happen.
“I knew exactly what was going on but maybe it was a misunderstanding between the councillors where they’re not understanding that they’re both rowing in the same direction,” Cr Giudice said.
A council meeting that lasted over three hours was not good for anyone, Cr Giudice added.
“It’s not good for the councillors and it’s not good for the gallery because I think councillors can become very tired at the end and it’s also not fair on the officers, who were there from 9am,” she said.
