By NICOLE VALICEK
FORMER Hobsons Bay Mayor Tony Briffa has finally apologised following a long running dispute fighting serious misconduct charges.
The long awaited hearing involving Cr Briffa and Cr Peter Hemphill, who laid the serious misconduct charges against Cr Briffa, ended last week at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) after Cr Briffa agreed to an apology.
The issue began in 2011 when Cr Briffa was taken to a Councillor Conduct Panel (CCP) relating to emails he sent regarding then Mobil employee Maureen Short.
Cr Briffa also copied in Ms Short’s then employer Mobil and other community members calling for her sacking following a public meeting earlier that year.
The panel found the then Deputy Mayor breached the councillors code of conduct and ordered him to attend 12 months counselling and apologise to Ms Short.
In September, Cr Briffa appeared before another conduct panel – this time to face allegations of serious misconduct after he allegedly did not make a serious apology.
Before the panel handed down its verdict, Cr Briffa exercised his right to have the matter referred to VCAT.
Following the settlement in VCAT last week, Cr Briffa issued another apology and admitted engaging in inappropriate behaviour by repeating certain statements.
“I promise to uphold all of the Councillor Conduct Principals in future,” Cr Briffa said.
On Thursday Star informed Ms Short about the apology from Cr Briffa as she was still in the dark about the outcome of the hearing.
“I’m glad Tony Briffa admitted he was wrong in his accusation. I did feel quite bullied by him, my reputation was very much tarnished by his actions,” Ms Short said.
“In all of this long sorry saga I feel like I’d have to commend Cr Hemphill for taking up my cause and I guess in defending my integrity.”
She said she wanted to receive an apology from Cr Briffa in person.
“I hope that what he’s done has made the public vindicated of what I was accused of.”
“I want him to be sincere and the way to do that is face to face with him.”
Ms Short said she did not want history to repeat itself.
“I feel terrible ratepayers have had to pay this cost,” she said.
It is believed Cr Briffa’s legal expenses were more than $100,000, while Cr Hemphill’s were tens of thousands.
Cr Hemphill told Star after the hearing that Cr Briffa’s conduct was “shameful behaviour of a councillor”.
Cr Hemphill said Cr Briffa’s apology was an admission that the repeat claims against Ms Short in 2011 had no substance.
He said this was the central issue relating to his complaint of serious misconduct.
“It was bullying behaviour against a woman who had no means of defending herself and was calculated to destroy her reputation.”
Cr Briffa did not respond to the Star’s questions saying he could not comment on the VCAT case as it was settled confidentially.
In his apology, posted on his website, Cr Briffa stated that he regrets his inappropriate behaviour and that he believes he has learnt from it.
Cr Hemphill, whose legal fees cost ratepayers about $23,000, said he agreed to the settlement in the interest of saving ratepayers tens of thousands of dollars in “exuberant” legal costs from Cr Briffa’s legal team.
