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Mayor seeks legal advice

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Legal advice is being sought by Naracoorte Lucindale Council over a motion by Cr Trevor Rayner to reduce the deputy mayor’s term.

In rules explained by CEO Trevor Smart on November 30 last year, Cr Monique Crossling was named deputy mayor for four years after Cr Cameron Grundy’s name was pulled out of a hat, following a tied vote.

Cr Rayner said in his written motion, that on November 30, 2022, a motion was moved by Cr Peter Ireland, and seconded by Cr Darren Turner, that the deputy mayor position be for four years.

“I would like to rescind that motion,” Cr Rayner said in his written statement.

He called for a new motion – that the deputy mayor position be for two years. But when the item arose on the agenda in December, Cr Rayner said he would like to withdraw it.

Mayor Patrick Ross: “Cr Rayner wishes to withdraw the motion. I am happy to talk around that.

“I looked at Cr Rayner’s motion and also looked at the motion he was looking to revoke.

“It is my opinion that Cr Rayner’s motion could create some issues and so, in consultation with Mr Smart, we are going to have some legal opinion on that.

“Once we have that, we will be able to address Cr Rayner’s motion.

“Cr Rayner’s motion was to rescind the motion of Cr Ireland and I thought that was fraught with danger, so we’ll get legal opinion and we’ll come back.”

Traditionally the council has elected its deputy mayor as the person with the highest number of votes for two years.

In the previous council, Craig McGuire was elected deputy mayor for two years, then again for a further two years after receiving the highest number of votes in the 2018 election.

Cr McGuire received the second highest number of votes at council’s 2022 election, with Cr Cameron Grundy the highest, polling around 200 above the quota.

On November 30, after a four-year term was set, Cr Rayner nominated Cr Grundy for deputy mayor.

Cr Damien Ross nominated Cr Crossling.

In a show of hands, Crs Abigail Goodman, Tom Dennis, McGuire, Ross and Crossling voted for Cr Crossling.

Crs Ireland, Rayner, Grundy, “Crash” Downward and Darren Turner voted for Cr Grundy.

CEO Mr Smart highlighted the rules – the name of both candidates were to go into a hat and the name drawn from the hat was to be excluded.

Cr Grundy’s name was pulled out and he was excluded. Cr Grundy made it clear to The News he had nothing to do with Cr Rayner’s motion.

The News understands legal advice has since been received and the matter has been put aside.

The issue is not listed for discussion in the council’s January agenda.

Naracoorte Community News 1 February 2023

This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.

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