Previous general manager of Bega Valley Shire Council and regular speaker at council meetings, David Jesson, has raised several questions over meeting procedures and costs relating to a code of conduct matter.
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At the council meeting on February 20, councillors went into closed session to discuss what is now understood to be two code of conduct matters.
In a public presentation at last week's council meeting, March 13, Mr Jesson referred to the closed session.
"I was in the area outside. On three or four occasions I heard loud shouting between councillors coming from the meeting room. I heard you Madam Mayor on a number of occasions call for order in a loud voice and I believe I heard the use of the gavel," Mr Jesson said, adding he wasn't eavesdropping but could not help but hear.
"Quite plainly what I heard was a meeting which had descended into farce and was clearly out of order, unedifying from the council's perspective," Mr Jesson told the meeting.
He went on to pose the question as to the cost to ratepayers of the two code of conduct matters considered in the closed session meeting held on February 20.
On three or four occasions I heard loud shouting between councillors coming from the meeting room.
- David Jesson
"I understand that the answer is known to councillors and involves some tens of thousands of dollars and all of this when the two matters were 'noted'," he said.
"That's about $15,000 per 'note'," he added.
Mr Jesson's comments imply the two code of conduct matters have cost council $30,000 and that the figure is known to councillors.
Details of matters raised and discussed in confidential sessions are by their nature kept confidential unless councillors agree to release information through declassifying the report.
When Mr Jesson made his comments, a report on the code of conduct matters had not been declassified. It therefore must beg the question of how Mr Jesson was able to speak about the costs of the matter with such surety.
Unless a member of council staff has revealed the information, it must have come from a councillor, neither of whom should discuss confidential matters. Mayor Kristy McBain was contacted for a comment.