By Vanessa Chircop
HOBSONS Bay City Council’s response to the mayoral parking ticket controversy has sparked outrage among some residents and unions.
A Star investigation last week revealed that Hobsons Bay mayor Bill Tehan approached a council officer and asked him to waiver a parking ticket.
The council officer complied. Chief executive Bill Jaboor said: “The officer who waived the fine made an error in judgement and has been made aware of the mistake.”
But the response was slammed by the Australian Services Union (ASU), which claimed responsibility should not rest with the employee.
“Councillors should not be making requests to council staff – not just in relation to parking tickets but planning decisions and other council matters as well – the Ombudsman has also made this very clear,” ASU Victorian assistant branch secretary Igor Grattan told Star.
“For a council to then use a council employee as a scapegoat I find outrageous.
“Appropriate action should be taken against the person responsible for the transgression not the victim who was cornered.
“People have got to take responsibility for their actions – the mayor had the power in this situation and therefore should take the responsibility.”
Seaholme resident Diana Rice has also raised concerns about the mayor’s parking ticket being waived.
Ms Rice said she did not believe the mayor should have special privileges to park illegally in a loading zone and should admit he was in the wrong.
“I think a public apology or admitting that he was wrong would be the right thing to do,” she said.
“A similar attempt by one of the former Brimbank councillors led in part to the sacking of the entire council last year.
“Leaning on the council officer to withdraw the parking ticket is not fair and denying that any wrongdoing has occurred is pretty outrageous.”
Ms Rice said the issue should not be ignored.
“At the very least, the incident should be investigated by the Local Government Investigations and Compliance Inspectorate.”
Brooklyn resident Charlie Volpe said he was concerned this may not be an isolated incident.
“What other stuff goes on that we don’t hear about?” he said.
“If the mayor genuinely believed he was fined wrongly he should have went through the right processes to get the fine appealed.”
“Is he sending the message that we can now go straight to a council officer to appeal a fine?”
President of the Williamstown Traders Association Michelle Langlands told Star that she was angered by the issue because it reflected the lack of parking in Williamstown.
“I’m angry because council rejected an opportunity to create more parking with Coles on Stevedore Street where a building is for sale,” she said.
“Coles approached the council for assistance to create a car park on that land and the council rejected the idea.
“Obviously parking is an issue if our own mayor had to park in a loading zone – he has no more right than anyone else.”
Star contacted every Hobsons Bay councillor last week but only received a response from Deputy Mayor Tony Briffa.
“I am satisfied the mayor did nothing wrong,” Cr Briffa said.
“The mayor did not direct a council officer to withdraw the fine. An investigation by any body – whether it be the Ombudsman or the Local Government Department – would arrive at the same conclusion.”
