At the same meeting Griffith councillors moved a revised code of conduct model, mayor John Dal Broi threatens three female councillors with an investigation over comments allegedly made and recorded in a committee meeting.
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The general council meeting dissolved into back-talking and threats when reviewing the minutes of the Communities Committee meeting in November 2018.
Cr Dal Broi moved to remove clause one, point two, stating he was "very concerned" about its professionalism in regards to allegations against a council staffer. His motion was seconded by Cr Dino Zappacosta.
The clause related to councillors not receiving invitations to the cheque presentation, with councillors Anne Napoli as chairwoman of the committee, Rina Mercuri and Deborah Longhurst alleged to have expressed their desire for the minutes to note their disappointment in a particular staff member for the mishap, and wished to be notified of any future meetings.
The mayor then dismissed Cr Mike Neville's point of order on him being unable to suggest a motion being the chairman of the meeting himself.
Cr Mercuri stood up to clarify, saying it was not their intent to make derogatory remarks about a staff member, rather to note they were "deeply saddened" at not having been able to attend.
She also outlined requests were made to change the minutes due the integrity of their request, to be notified in future, being lost. Cr Dal Broi then said he made efforts to verify the truth.
"I made it my business to ring some of the community members on that committee and they confirm what is written here before me," he said.
He then went on to say this could be subject to a code of conduct against the three councillors "if someone wants to pursue it".
Cr Longhurst, who also stood to clarify the situation, said she would welcome the investigation because she felt the mayor was "skewing the facts."
Cr Napoli was absent from the meeting.
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Cr Doug Curran asked the mayor why he had not spoken to the councillors in question themselves, which "could have prevented it from getting this far," to which the mayor replied: "why should I have had to when they are sitting before me?"
Those wishing to hear the dispute in question can head to Griffith City Council's website for audio on Tuesday 12 general council meeting.
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