By Vanessa Chircop
Hobsons Bay Deputy Mayor Tony Briffa has been ordered to attend counselling for misconduct.
In a major scandal, Cr Briffa was taken to a Councillor Conduct Panel after allegations he sent threatening emails to Altona resident Maureen Short earlier this year.
The panel found the Deputy Mayor breached the councillors’ code of conduct and “improperly sought to confer a disadvantage upon Ms Maureen Short”.
As reported by Star previously, Cr Briffa sent emails to Ms Short, her employer Mobil and several members of the community calling for her sacking following a public meeting in March this year.
The decision, a copy of which has been seen by Star, also found Cr Briffa’s emails to be potentially harmful to not only the Mobil employee’s professional life, but to her standing in the community.
The panel noted that the email provoked an “entirely appropriate” response from Mobil’s General Manager and Refining Director Glenn Henson, who sent a letter to Hobsons Bay’s CEO Bill Jaboor in defence of his employee, claiming Cr Briffa’s emails were “unprovoked”, “unprofessional” and “inappropriate”.
But the panel also noted the email provoked an “entirely inappropriate response” from Hobsons Bay’s Mayor Michael Raffoul – who sent a statement to the media in defence of his deputy in June.
As a result of the findings, Cr Briffa has been ordered to attend 12 months counselling under the supervision of the Mayor.
The decision has put a cloud of doubt over this year’s mayoral election.
The two-time deputy mayor was rumoured to be next in line for the council’s top job.
But it appears the finding will rule Cr Briffa ineligible to stand for the position.
Cr Briffa has been ordered to apologise in writing to Ms Short by Wednesday 7 September and to email a copy of the apology to all persons who were copied into the emails sent in March.
Cr Briffa told Star he would apologise to Ms Short but claimed the panel process was flawed and stood by the emails he sent to her in March.
“I was denied the opportunity to defend myself because the hearing was conducted in my absence. Additionally, mediation or internal conflict resolution processes weren’t tried,” he said.
“I will abide by the decision which includes making an apology.
“An apology doesn’t mean anything when one is compelled to give it.”
Ms Short told Star she was grateful for the panel’s decision and to be vindicated of any wrong doing.
“I’ve had to constantly defend myself,” she said.
“I hope that all the other councillors learn from Cr Briffa’s behaviour.”
Ms Short said if Cr Briffa appealed the panel’s decision it would show that he shows no remorse for his actions.
“It would be a cost to the council and I can’t see the outcome being any different.”
Cr Briffa’s apology is available on his website.
