A trio of Bega Valley councillors are looking to rescind a plan to test ratepayers' pulses on the idea of a popularly elected mayor.
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At its January 27 meeting, Bega Valley Shire Council voted on a motion to hold a public referendum, in conjunction with September's local government elections, on the idea of a popularly elected mayor.
The referendum question would be to ask the question "Do you support council moving to have a popularly elected mayor? Yes or No".
The motion to hold the referendum just snuck through on the casting vote of the mayor. However, one of the councillors who voted against it, Jo Dodds, is now tabling a rescission motion, co-signed by councillors Cathy Griff and Liz Seckold.
The idea of a popularly elected mayor has come up every time the Bega Valley has a council election. However, the idea tends to get dropped as soon as costs are discussed - an estimated $30,000+ for the referendum, and $100,000 for subsequent mayoral polls as part of local government elections.
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In her notice of motion, Cr Dodds said she has provided a rescission motion to the general manager as well as an alternate motion, that the NSW Electoral Commission be advised accordingly should the rescission be passed.
"The council at its meeting today is proposing to adopt the operational plan and budget on public exhibition," Cr Dodds added in her notice for Wednesday's meeting.
"Many tough decisions have been made in relation to what projects and services can be carried out. The cost of this referendum is in the order of $33,000. Undertaking this action comes at the cost of other critical community priorities."