Norwood Payneham & St Peters councillor Scott Sims censured for bad behaviour towards mayor

A councillor who has cost $76,000 in legal fees has been rebuked for using offensive language during exchanges with a resident and his mayor.

A councillor who has cost ratepayers $76,000 in legal fees has publicly apologised for saying “bulls--t” during exchanges with a resident and his mayor.

Norwood Payneham & St Peters Council member Scott Sims was found to have twice breached its code of conduct after investigations by law firm Kelledy Jones.

Cr Sims has publicly apologised to Mayor Robert Bria and an eastern suburbs resident, Dehane Fletcher, for his “inappropriate” behaviour.

Mr Bria lodged a complaint against Cr Sims in April after he interrupted him three times while he was addressing a council meeting in February.

Cr Sims said “that’s bulls--t, your worship”, “that’s bulls--t” and “you’re bullying”, which Mr Bria found offensive and disrespectful.

Norwood, Payneham and St Peters councillor Scott Sims. Picture: Supplied

1Mayor of Norwood Robert Bria. Picture: Tom Huntley

In his complaint, a “disappointed” Mr Bria said when he told Cr Sims he intended to take further action, he responded with: “Bring it on.”

Mr Bria said he was “compelled to take action to address Cr Sims’ unprovoked interruption”.

“Following the meeting, a number of members expressed their disgust with Cr Sims’ complaint and concern that his behaviour reflected badly on the council,” he said.

A separate complaint was lodged by Mr Fletcher in February over comments posted on Facebook by Cr Sims about an issue involving the council’s management of a tree in his backyard. In his complaint, Mr Fletcher said he was offended when Cr Sims said his concerns were “bulls--t” and accused him of “trolling”.

The Facebook exchange between Norwood Payneham and St Peters councillor Scott Sims and a resident. Picture: Supplied

The Facebook exchange between Norwood Payneham and St Peters councillor Scott Sims and a resident. Picture: Supplied

Apologising to Mr Fletcher, Cr Sims said he acknowledged he “responded in a tone and manner that could reasonably have been read as intemperate and disrespectful”.

“I acknowledge that I was in error and, that in this instance, I did not meet the high professional standards expected of an elected member,” Cr Sims said.

In his apology to Mr Bria, he said he should not have interrupted the meeting.

“While my disappointment and frustration at the mayor’s approach to the matter stands, I acknowledge that my behaviour was not appropriate,” Cr Sims said.

“Frustration and disappointment is no excuse for inappropriate or unprofessional behaviour as an elected member.”

Voting to censure Cr Sims, elected members were informed in council minutes that he had cost the local authority $76,000 in legal fees since his election in 2018.

Mr Bria said he was glad Cr Sims had been censured but declined to comment further.

Contacted for comment, Mr Sims said he would be “more careful about how I deliver myself in the future”.

“Some of my comments have been robust and passionate, but my only intention has been to defend the council and stick up for residents and ratepayers,” he said.