While we respect and acknowledge the contributions of those who are prepared to take responsible roles, like many in our community we also harbour concerns about behaviours that we believe are not befitting leadership positions.
At Edward River Council there are ongoing issues with a Mayor who does not sufficiently respect the views of others and, judging by feedback from multiple sources, will not accept advice on how to improve her leadership capabilities.
She again showed poor judgement this week during what appeared a trivial dispute about a councillor’s apology.
Cr Pat Fogarty had apologised for a 6pm council workshop, scheduled for Tuesday.
The workshop was replaced with an extraordinary meeting to alter a motion from the previous week’s council meeting.
Cr Fogarty quite rightly expected her apology to still be accepted.
Cr Betts thought otherwise, in the latest example of her struggles to ‘read a room’, let alone lead a cohesive and collaborative unit.
Tuesday evening, a week after the council terminated CEO Phil Stone, presented Cr Betts with a prime opportunity to lead by example and display a fresh, warm, even empathetic approach to her fellow councillors.
She failed the test.
For some who have watched the dysfunction at council with frustration, this was the ‘straw that broke the camel’s back’.
Many residents want change, and they want it quickly.
Calls have come for the Mayor to resign, with others going further and suggesting the Minister for Local Government should appoint an administrator.
We believe our community would be best served with a council that could resolve its differences before September’s election, and agree this could best be achieved with someone else in the mayor’s chair for the next six months.
Unfortunately, if Cr Betts continues to display the dogmatism we have seen during her time as mayor, she is likely to reject any calls for her to stand down, and the bloc of councillors who have supported her throughout this council term are unlikely to accept that change is in the community’s interest.
If this be the case, the council will have to limp along until September, when residents will have an opportunity to elect a new, more cohesive team.
Another major local organisation with its own leadership issues is Murray Irrigation, and its shareholders will have a chance to vote on the standards it wants upheld at a general meeting on April 10.
If a ‘yes’ vote to remove the company’s independent directors prevails, it is likely the incoming MIL Chair will be a director under scrutiny for sexual harassment allegations.
Many shareholders hold a view that such an appointment would be condoning inappropriate behaviour.
There is no doubt that in recent times we have seen behaviours in this region’s two largest organisations which do not uphold the standards which should be expected.
For many reasons, a re-set is needed.
Residents must hold our leaders to account and show, on their ballot papers, the values we expect from our elected representatives.
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