Gawler Council meeting halted over bullying claims
A Gawler council meeting descended into farce as a councillor accused the mayor and chief executive of bullying and intimidation.
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A Gawler Council meeting was halted after a mayor and councillor clashed amid claims of bullying and intimidation.
The meeting was stopped for a 30 minute recess after a long-standing feud between councillor and ex-deputy mayor Ian Tooley and Mayor Karen Redman came to a head.
Cr Tooley read a prepared personal statement to the meeting stating that after returning from close to two months leave he was contacted by members of the council and residents questioning a motion from the July 23 council meeting from which he was absent.
Cr Tooley said the motion – relating to a payment into the council’s carpark fund – was “of concern to council leadership (because) if passed it was perceived to have serious implications and flow-on effects”.
“Councillors are required to come to the council meeting with an open mind having fully prepared by studying materials ... and on the night of the meeting listen to the debate, listen to the arguments and make up their mind,” he said in his statement.
“Yet late on the day of the July 23rd council meeting we have the mayor and CEO making direct contact with selected councillors directly warning, threatening and intimidating them about conflict of interest and suggesting that they give serious consideration to declaring conflict and not voting on the item.
“This interference and intimidation was clearly designed to influence the outcome of the decision.”
As Cr Tooley continued reading his statement, Ms Redman asked the councillor to be respectful and stop because he was “making derogatory and potentially horrible comments towards other members and staff”.
“I’m going to shut the meeting down ... I’m going to adjourn the meeting,” she said.
Councillors voted to adjourn the meeting for half an hour as Cr Tooley accused the mayor of outrageous and “typical bullying tactics”.
“You bully me and refuse to let me speak because you don’t like what is being said,” he said.
“(This is) continued bullying of me by you and refusal to accept stuff you don’t like.
“Both you and the CEO threatened and intimidated council members in order to influence that decision and that needs to be investigated.”
The meeting was halted after a 30 minute break and Cr Tooley was not allowed to finish his personal statement.
After the meeting Cr Tooley said “It’s about democracy, we need to know as a council that we can come to a meeting without fear or favour,” he said.
“I’m not there to be disruptive, I’m not there to be a bad boy and I’m not trying to be aggressive.
“I’m trying to do the right thing and I believe every councillor should argue and debate fiercely on important issues.”
When contacted Ms Redman declined to comment further on the issue.
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