MONTHLY UPDATE ON COUNCILLORS’ PERFORMANCE FOR OCTOBER Cr Judy Hannan raised the issue of monitoring councillors’ performance a few months ago and WRRA took up the call. In September, we raised the issue of councillors failing to answer correspondence and return phone calls despite having mobiles and laptop paid for by ratepayers, not to mention a recent increase in their monthly fees. We aim to report their performance after each monthly meeting. 1. BENN BANASIK: He’s in the boys’ club and did a deal for the mayoral position last month. Only the 9 councillors can vote from amongst themselves who they want to be mayor for the year. Benn has 11 months to serve and is trying very hard to make people believe he’s worthy of the job. As hot as it was at the Council meeting last night, he wore the mayoral robes and chain of office to impress the room and Council had the air conditioning turned up so high that lesser clad people were nearly frozen out of the chamber. Benn claims he supports the popularly elected mayoral campaign but he didn’t support Judy Hannan’s motion last night. He’s also taken offence at question asked of him by yours truly. 2. RAY LAW: He’s just a nice person and does what he was elected to do. He hasn’t been invited to join the boys’ club. Very hard for an honourable person to work with power-hungry zealots. 3. KATE TERRY: Still showing her inexperience after 13 months in the job. She doesn’t know what a sunset committee does and doesn’t support the popularly elected mayor campaign. She’s got 3 years left to prove her worthiness as a councillor. So far she’s uninspiring. Interesting to watch her trying to blend with staff. 4. LOU AMATO: Also a member of the boys’ club. Elected one year and already he’s been elected deputy by his comrades. He didn’t stop eating lollies all through the meeting; didn’t open his business paper once and didn’t speak on a single item. Spent all his time scrolling through his Ipad. He’s lax in answering correspondence or returning phone calls but if you’re in the Liberal Party, it’s a different story. He claims he’s an Independent, but how can you be Independent when you’re the president of the local Liberal Party branch? He states in his mandatory discretionary disclosure that his principal residence is in Bargo. Not true. His principal residence is in Balmoral,Wingecarribee Shire and he objects to being questioned about it. Perhaps he’ll move back to Wollondilly before the next election. This far, he hasn’t lived up to his election promises and has proved to be a disappointing representative. 5. MICHAEL BANASIK: Another member of the boys’ club. It’s fair to say that after nearly 20 years as a councillor, it’s time he moved on. He’s anti-progressive and antiquated in outlook. It’s easy to disagree with his philosophy. He reads his business paper and keeps in the know but he’s anti-Wilton airport and opposes the popularly elected mayoral campaign. Back in 2005, he was elected mayor out of the hat. If the people had the democratic right to vote for the mayor, he wouldn’t stand a chance. 6. COL MITCHELL: Another member of the boys’ club. He’s in his 75th year and was a Council employee before he was elected as a councillor. Mitchell says he supports the popularly elected mayor campaign, but voted against it at the meeting last night. The former secretary of the Thirlmere Boating Club, he used Council resources to set up a campaign to oppose National Parks & Wildlife Service banning the renewal of boating licences to save the lakes back in the mid nineties. He’s very close to General Manager Les McMahon, and has supported all his annual salary increases. He raised a late notice of motion last night calling on Council to revise the regime for asking questions at Community Forum Meetings. He doesn’t like the democratic process of freedom of speech. Council is now having a workshop on the issue. Even though he is elected by the people, he is openly hostile towards anybody who criticises Council. Last night was an example. 7. HILTON GIBBS: Quiet and thoughtful. Only speaks when he has something to say. He hasn’t been invited to join the boys’ club and lost out on the deputy mayor position to Lou Amato, not because Amato deserves it, but because he’s in the boys’ club. Hilton reads his business paper and communicates with ratepayers. He’s doing what he was elected to do. 8. JUDY HANNAN: On her toes for the entire meeting. Diligent to the job, she works hard to return correspondence and phone calls. Reads her business paper methodically and knows what she’s talking about. Not a member of the boys’ club, she is without doubt the only person worthy of the mayoral position. She’s the one to go to if you have an issue with Council. 9. SIMON LANDOW: Related to Benn and Michael Banasik, he is a member of the boys’ club. Not a competent speaker, he didn’t have much to say at the meeting last night. He doesn’t support the popularly elected mayor campaign and has openly criticised the democratic process. He’s another councillor who is uninspiring and shows no talent for the job of representing the community. oo00oo
Posted on: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 23:12:52 +0000
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