By NATALIE GALLENTI
ANGRY gallery members disrupted last week’s Melton City Council meeting, forcing police to take action.
A large police contingent was on hand to subdue the volatile crowd that spilled into the council’s foyer area.
Two regular gallery members were ejected from the chamber by police after receiving three warnings from mayor Kathy Majdlik.
Both men did not return, but continued to remonstrate outside.
The meeting was adjourned for several minutes, but continued with minimal disruption throughout the remainder of the evening.
Speaking to Star last week, Melton Police Inspector Stephen Mutton, who was present on the night, said the force had “upped the ante” from the previous meeting where members of the public wore masks and paraded throughout the chambers.
Insp Mutton said the police would continue to confer with the council and would attend further meetings if there was a genuine need.
“The council has the right to hold meetings…and people have the right to attend and hear what is being said,” he said.
He described the crowd behaviour as “volatile, aggressive and noisy”.
“If people behave in that way, if we’re directed to remove them we will.”
This is not the first time police have been called on to forcibly remove and pacify angry residents.
Since last December, nearly every council meeting has been adjourned, with last month’s meeting suspended.
