THE Tenterfield and District Visitors Association has called for the immediate dismissal of six councillors giving them a vote of ‘no confidence’.
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The group made the blunt decision during their last committee meeting after being “virtually sacked” as managers of the Visitor’s Information Centre.
In the firing line are councillors Mary Leahy, Carol Schiffmann, Toni Hull, Gary Verri, Tom Peters and Blair Maxwell.
The six councillors led a successful takedown of the TDVA from the running of the centre, now controlled by Tenterfield Shire Council. A letter has been sent to the office of Paul Toole, Minister for Local Government, requesting their dismissal.
Minister for Tourism Stuart Ayres and Member for Lismore Thomas George have also been sent the letter while council general manager Lotta Jackson has been made aware of the action.
“We have completely lost confidence in council’s ability to make decisions in an ethical and impartial manner and believe that these councillors have treated their community with contempt, and by refusing any consultation they have denied us natural justice,” the letter reads.
“The principles of natural justice have implications for all councillors regardless of their political views.
“Councillors must ensure that they consider all the available arguments and information before finally making up their minds on an issue. These six councillors failed to do this.”
The TDVA has accused the councillors of voting improperly on the matters that were put to them over a period of time.
“The six councillors predetermined their decisions, ignoring both consultation and information provided to them, and this appears to our members to be an abuse of power.
A petition calling for the TDVA to continue operating the Visitors Information Centre with over 1300 signatures was ignored and “is evidence of the blatant disregard that these six councillors display towards their constituents” according to the group.
“Our community is in crisis.
“Tenterfield is left demoralised, distressed and in crisis because of the decisions made by a few councillors who appear to be led by a very small group of individuals in the Ratepayers Association,” the letter says.
At the August ordinary council meeting a motion put forward by Cr Michael Petrie was passed that stipulates “that all costs for the running of the Tenterfield Visitors Centre, including costings of all staff, including the general manager, and other expenses involved, to be accounted for and presented to the Ordinary Council Meeting in July 2016”.
The notice of motion was supported by all 10 councillors.