Tensions rise at Town Hall over meetings
Adelaide City elected members were ordered to “learn to be adults” during fiery debate about whether the number of council meetings per month should be scaled back.
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Adelaide City elected members were ordered to “learn to be adults” during fiery debate about whether the number of council meetings per month should be scaled back.
At a committee meeting last night, Cr Phil Martin hit back at Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor’s suggestion to reduce the number of formal council meetings from two to one per month.
Debate between elected members became heated, with committee chairman deputy lord mayor Houssam Abiad telling elected members to “learn to be adults”.
Cr Martin said the idea was a way the council’s majority faction – known as Team Adelaide – could make themselves “less vulnerable” to public scrutiny.
“I think it would be shutting the council doors of democracy, to close the place one week of the month,” Cr Martin said.
“It is a proposal that will strike a chord with voters and it will be unwelcomed.”
Under Ms Verschoor’s proposal there would be a strategic workshop on the first week of the month followed by committee sitting and formal council meeting in the second and third weeks.
The last week of the month would allow for either a special council meetings or workshops to be called, if they are required.
Currently, the council has formal meetings on the second and fourth week of the month and committee meetings, where no decisions are made, in between.
Ms Verschoor, who told the meeting other capital cities had similar models, said it was a way to streamline work and being more efficiently.
“I do believe we should schedule that meeting fourth meeting … and use it how we need it,” Ms Verschoor said.
Cr Anne Moran supported keeping two formal council meetings was not “onerous”.
“Why did you want to get on council if you only want to meet once a month?” Cr Moran said.
“I’d prefer not to see some of the people here on a regular basis too, and I am sure they would not like to see me, but you signed up to be on council.”
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However, Cr Arman Abrahimzadeh said the proposal would put the workloads in “manageable chunks” and would help elected members work effectively.
“All of our ratepayers still have the opportunity to grab us on the street, send us an email, give us a phone call or see us at Town Hall – I don’t see this as reducing democracy at all,” Cr Abrahimzadeh said.
Cr Alexander Hyde suggested a trial of at least six months if the “proposal could help (the council) work better”.
A report will be presented to the committee on Tuesday, December 3.