I DON’T live in Doveton but I pay rates that are unjustly increased annually.
About five weeks ago, I expressed concern regarding the safety and security of shoppers and other pedestrians at Autumn Place, Doveton.
Three retailers daily display a large quantity of their goods on the sidewalk for sale, outside their stores which represents a big obstacle as well as a serious danger to users of this sidewalk.
When I queried the council about the kind of permits that have been issued to those retailers that allow them to cause obstruction on the footpath, I was told that I should apply to Freedom of Information to obtain that information. Shame!
Likewise, when I queried Casey Manager Governance about the current remuneration of Mike Tyler, she referred me to Freedom of Information.
It must be noted, however, that the chief executive officer Mike Tyler has been reappointed for a further four-year term to 2020 with a total remuneration package of $394,000.
Why was the position not advertised to give an opportunity to other qualified people to apply?
Because, according to the Deputy Mayor Mick Morland “Mr Tyler is delivering a visionary plan” just as he said: “Cr, Aziz was a man of great vision.”
For him, Mike Tyler and Sam Aziz seem to be irreplaceable at the top jobs as CEO and mayor respectively, even though Mike Tyler was found guilty of breaching the Local Government Act.
He was put on a 12-month good behaviour bond and ordered to pay $1000 to charity.
Cr Aziz was found guilty of misconduct earlier this month by the Municipal Association of Victoria’s councillor conduct panel for referring to Cr Rafal Kaplon as a ‘parasitic mosquito’.
There’s something wrong in the City of Casey.
And ‘Now is the time’ for some councillors to realise that they are accountable to Casey residents.
Cr Morland served once as Berwick Shire mayor, twice as mayor of Casey, why has he been appointed deputy mayor again?
Cr Smith served as mayor in the past, why has council elected him as deputy mayor again?
Why has council elected two deputy mayors when one is more than enough?
Cr Aziz served as mayor in 2011, why has he been appointed to the position again when Cr Crestani could have been appointed instead?
Like many other Casey residents, I verily believe that the top job should be limited to one term only, except if no other councillor qualifies for the job, which I doubt very much.
The top position should not be monopolised by a few councillors, every ward should be given a fair go.
Like John Glazebrook in the Berwick News of 19 November 2015, I am strongly opposed to the China picnic for councillors and staff, at the expense of ratepayers also to the Bunjil Place project that will cost ratepayers $125 million.
It should be frozen or scrapped because it’s not a priority.
Council is morally bound to spend ratepayers’ money wisely.
Eliezer Francois,
Endeavour Hills.
