Tension in the Murray River Council chambers has become palpable as meeting rules are more stringently enforced by Mayor Chris Bilkey.
At the last meeting of council on February 22, after a build up from the previous month, Cr Bilkey was forced to interject into debate involving councillors asking questions out of turn.
On most occasions it was Cr Tom Weyrich who was the subject of the Murray River Council leader’s implementation of the rules.
Cr Bilkey told The Riv last week that council had been involved in a seminar based on the rules of meetings late last year.
“It was conducted by an expert contractor, organised by Local Government New South Wales to deliver the information.
“Since then I have (been) more closely abiding by the rules of meeting conduct,” he said.
Cr Weyrich said it was ridiculous that councillors were allowed only one question and he was planning to take the matter further.
“I am ringing local government to ask how it can be changed. It has gone too far, all I am trying to do is seek out answers to questions,” Cr Weyrich said.
A Moama and Mathoura businessman, Cr Weyrich is a major player in debate during the meetings and has expressed concerns that he is unable to represent the constituents in the manner he would like, under these conditions.
“We are a small country council. As a representative of the community we should be able to ask questions,” he said.
“We have lost touch with the community. We have turned into a council that just doesn’t seem to care...”
Cr Weyrich was “cut off” on several occasions by the mayor during the open council meeting, including when he was questioning — out of turn, but interestingly enough — code of conduct statistics from September 1, 2020 until August 31, 2021.
There were seven complaints finalised in the period about councillors and the GM under the code of conduct. All were reviewed by the conduct reviewer.
The total cost of dealing with code of conduct complaints was $87,605.
Cr Weyrich was the subject of four of those investigations, all which were found to have no grounding and dismissed.
Under meeting rules all councillors are given the opportunity to speak once, in support or against, any matter that attracts a seconder.
“Unless they are the mover they are only allowed to speak once. And there is no room (for) questions at the end of another councillor’s comments,” Cr Bilkey said.
“At any time a point of order can be raised if they believe there has been a breach of the rules,” Cr Bilkey said.
He said, in Cr Weyrich’s case, it was not a matter of him being shut down. It was a simple matter of meeting rules.
“Unless he moves the motion he only has one opportunity to speak,” Cr Bilkey said.
He said it was unacceptable for Cr Weyrich to fire questions at other councillors and council officers after they had spoken in turn.
“Briefing sessions are held before every meeting. These are run by the CEO, with the purpose of staff being able to inform council about agenda information and provide answers to questions.
“Some councillors don’t attend all those meetings.
“It is incumbent on all councillors to read the agenda and reports, and to have the necessary information,” he said.
Cr Bilkey said while he did not mind a little humour in the meetings, he equally did not want meetings to become an uncontrolled environment.
“In the past I’ve been guilty of too much of that.
“Implementing these rules allows us to get through the meetings more quickly and won’t give rise to ill feeling between councillors.
“It also protects the integrity of the staff,” he said
He reminded The Riv that council’s meetings were the “mayor’s meetings”.
“The CEO is there, (and is) a point of reference only, he is there for clarification,” Cr Bilkey said
He said the questions which were being asked by Cr Weyrich seemed to indicate he may not have “read all the available documents”.
"Several of the questions he is asking are provided for him in the agenda reports.
“Other councillors research the agenda items. Frank Crawley, Ann Crowe, along with Nikki Cohen read everything and attend the briefings.
“Unfortunately for Cr Weyrich the application of the rules of debate do not suit his style,” Cr Bilkey said.