By VANESSA CHIRCOP
HOBSONS Bay’s Mayor Tony Briffa defended racking up legal expenses of more than $56,400 since November 2004.
As reported first by Star, more than $20,000 was for legal advice he received in relation to Councillor Conduct Panel (CCP) hearings.
A motion was passed in-camera, “authorising the payment of costs already incurred by” Cr Briffa and for any future advice and representation relating to CCP outcomes.
The motion was passed by Councillors John Hogg, Bill Tehan and Michael Raffoul.
Councillors Angela Altair, Peter Hemphill and Luba Grigorovitch voted against the motion with Cr Hemphill claiming the motion “was like signing a blank cheque”, but the then Mayor Raffoul had the casting vote.
Cr Hemphill said Cr Briffa had no right to legal representation at the CCP.
“At the second one, Cr Briffa sought legal representation and it was exclusively denied,” he said.
Despite this Cr Briffa retained legal representation for the hearing.
Cr Briffa was taken to a CCP, last August, in relation to three emails he sent to then Mobil employee Maureen Short.
The panel found he had breached the councillors’ code of conduct and ordered him to apologise to Ms Short.
In September, Cr Briffa was hauled before another conduct panel – this time for serious misconduct.
But before the panel handed down its verdict, Cr Briffa exercised his right to have the matter referred to VCAT.
“If I was guilty of anything it’s that I am passionate about our people, our city and our environment,” he said.
“I do not support the proposed contaminated soil facility in Altona and I maintain people should disclose any conflicts of interests.
“None the less, I accepted the Conduct Panel’s findings against me and apologised – but I did that in interest of putting that matter behind us and saving the council and rate payers that expense.
“What people don’t understand is that the only way I can end this matter and the cost is by resigning as Mayor, even though I haven’t done anything wrong – and I’m not going to resign.
“I have no option but to defend myself.”
