By VANESSA CHIRCOP
A CONTROVERSIAL council report on the costly legal feud between Cr Peter Hemphill and Mayor Tony Briffa caused uproar at the last council meeting when it was deferred.
The report was expected to reveal the details of the legal costs incurred by the two councillors since November 2004.
Despite being deferred by Cr Bill Tehan, the council agenda revealed Cr Briffa had racked up legal expenses of more than $56,400 while Cr Hemphill’s tally stood at $5020.
Debate on the deferment was also suppressed with Cr Briffa adjourning the meeting for 10 minutes and exiting the chamber while Cr Angela Altair called out “shame” to her fellow councillors.
Star can reveal a portion of the Cr Briffa’s expenses were for legal advice he received in relation to the August 2011 Councillor Conduct Panel (CCP).
A motion was passed in-camera on 6 September, “authorising the payment of costs already incurred by” Cr Briffa and was passed by Cr John Hogg, Cr Tehan and Cr Michael Raffoul.
Cr Altair, Cr Hemphill and Cr Luba Grigorovitch voted against the motion but the then Mayor Cr Raffoul had the casting vote.
Star understands Cr Grigorovitch attempted to reveal the costs through a motion on 3 April which was first unanimously passed, but then rescinded at the following council meeting.
A resolution was finally passed at the last council meeting to have authorisation of these costs revealed.
Cr Briffa was taken to a CCP last year after allegations he sent threatening emails to Altona resident Maureen Short.
The panel found the then Deputy Mayor guilty of misconduct and in breach of the councillors code of conduct.
In September, Cr Briffa was hauled before another conduct panel – this time to face allegations of serious misconduct.
But before the panel handed down its verdict, Cr Briffa opted to defer the matter to VCAT.
The allegations of serious misconduct were scheduled to be heard in VCAT this week.
