Here is a summary of the Kyogle Council meeting on May 8. Some of the topics have been written up as separate stories. Click on the links to go to those stories.
All council meetings can be heard in full at this link.
If someone starts walking down the shadow side of the path, I will cut them off.
Mayor Kylie Thomas
Pesticide plan
The draft Pesticide Use Notification Plan was adopted by council. Read more here and go here for the 15 submissions by residents.
How we behave in council
A report on Councillor and Staff Interaction Policy was listed by general manager Graham Kennett. The policy is issued by the NSW Office of Local Government and all councils must abide by it.
Deputy mayor Tom Cooper said there was nothing in the policy about whistleblowers.
Public Officer Marcus Schintler said the council had a separate policy that protected whistleblowers.
“I am the designated receiver of protected disclosures,” Mr Schintler said.
The matter of conduct came up after Councillor James Murray asked assets and infrastructures services director Tony Lickiss a question.
Mr Lickiss said he would take it on notice.
Mr Murray mumbled a sarcastic comment.
Mr Kennett was quick to address this, reminding Mr Murray that questions to staff should be submitted before the meeting in writing because staff did not necessarily have the answers immediately to hand.
“The code of meeting practice enables us to get complete answers and background we don’t know about,” Mr Kennett said.
Mayor Kylie Thomas reminded Mr Murray about the recent code of conduct meetings where councillors were told of the process for communication between council staff and councillors.
“If someone starts walking down the shadow side of the path, I will cut them off,” Ms Thomas said.
Paying the Emergency Services Levy
This is a big issue for rural councils across the state. Read more here.
Works on the go
Read the full works program here. Mr Cooper asked about the repair of Deep Creek Rd. The story is here.
New men’s shed
Woodenbong wants a men’s shed. Read more here.
Core and cluster
Sites are being sought for refuges for families fleeing domestic violence. Read about that here.
and then