Burnside to consider booze ban after Cr Harvey Jones seen drinking red wine, cider during online meeting
Burnside council is considering a ban on drinking during official business after a councillor enjoyed some wine while eating dinner during a virtual meeting of colleagues. VOTE IN OUR POLL.
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Burnside will consider banning alcohol during online meetings after one elected member was this week called out for drinking cider and red wine while attending to council business.
In a motion to be presented to the council’s April 28, Cr Henry Davis will push for staff to prepare a policy ensuring online meetings are alcohol-free.
Cr Davis said Cr Harvey Jones drinking red wine and cider during the council’s inaugural online meeting on April 14 “absolutely does not pass the pub test”.
“Councillors should not be drinking throughout a council meeting while we spend ratepayers’ money,” Cr Davis said.
“How a councillor can justify drinking through a council meeting is beyond me.
“We, as a council, were making decisions about our $40 million budget.”
When asked how the council would police a booze ban, Cr Davis suggested it would be similar to speed restrictions.
“You have a sign post and most people will comply, some will get away with it and some will get caught,” he said.
“I think not being on camera going through multiple drinks in a night is a good start, though.”
Cr Jones said he opened a bottle of cider after work, which he was still finishing when Burnside’s online meeting started at 5.45pm.
“I later had two glasses of wine with dinner, which I ate (during the meeting),” Cr Jones said.
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“This was our first electronic meeting and we are all getting used to these new ways of operating as a result of COVID-19.
“If Henry thinks that having a glass of wine with dinner isn’t a good look, I’m happy to take that on the chin.”
He said it was “sad” he first heard of the complaint through the media: “If Henry was so concerned why didn’t he just text me or raise the issue during the meeting?”
Meanwhile, Mitcham Council has also issued a booze warning its elected members.
Its April 14 agenda included a clause under meeting “etiquette dos and don’ts” for members to not “consume alcohol before or during a meeting”.
That warning came after three failed attempts last year to ban free alcohol for Mitcham councillors and staff after full council meetings, briefings and training sessions.