Councillor ‘deliberately snubbed’ mayor for opening ceremony of skate park lights
A COUNCILLOR has been accused of deliberately snubbing her mayor by not inviting him to an event to celebrate a local skate park’s new lights, which cost the council $75,000 to install.
TEA Tree Gully councillor Paula Luethen-Soper has been accused of deliberately snubbing her colleagues by staging an opening ceremony for new lights at a Golden Grove skate park — paid for with $75,000 of ratepayers money — and not inviting the mayor or some of her fellow councillors.
Mayor Kevin Knight has taken aim at Cr Luethen-Soper for organising “her own community event” and neglecting to invite him and at least six members to the turning on of the lights at the Goldenfields skate park on March 3.
In an angry email to elected members, he said Cr Luethen-Soper — also a potential political rival for the state seat of King — informed elected members of the event, via email, 12 hours after it took place.
Fellow councillors Matthew Harbinson and Peter Field were also outraged by the move.
Cr Harbinson, who said it was “bizarre” he was not invited as he and other elected members had been “pivotal” in lobbying for the project since 2007, received an email from a perplexed local skater who expressed disappointment that he wasn’t at the opening.
“Don’t wanna have a shot but was just a little surprised you weren’t there cos (sic) I know you’ve been pushing the lights for a while,” the skater said in an email to Cr Harbison.
“I didn’t think it would be something you’d miss.”
Cr Peter Field said elected members should have been invited.
“It (the event) should have been handled by the council’s events team,” he said.
“We are here for our community, not our political ambitions, not to draw attention to ourselves.”
Cr Luethen-Soper said the mayor had been consulted in January and the event was not an official opening.
“I am perplexed by the inaccurate information (being reported) ... and hope everyone can just get on with focusing on the community,” she said.
But Mr Knight insisted he was not informed about the opening and demanded to know who authorised it.
“Never at any time did Cr Luethen-Soper approach me about holding an official council event nor did she ever approach me about holding the ‘community’ event,” he said.
“I am extremely disappointed ... it is not in my opinion how a council should work.
“My respect for her is now completely non-existent. I do, however, think the position of mayor deserves some respect.
“I think that Cr Luethen Soper has some explaining to do.”
However Cr Bernie Keane said “it was not an official council function”.
“I was told by council staff it was happening,” he said.
“But I had specifically asked to be informed on the progress of the project, as it’s in my ward.”
A council spokesman said it would not investigate the matter and official events were only held for capital works projects associated with open space with budgets in excess of $200,000.