Calls to dump Dandenong councillor Angela Long over legal bill request
A Dandenong councillor asking taxpayers to foot nearly $9000 in personal legal bills is refusing to resign despite questions over whether she is fit for office.
Victoria
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A Dandenong councillor requesting taxpayers cover nearly $9000 in personal legal bills has sensationally had her request thrown out, as calls for her resignation ramp up.
But longtime councillor Angela Long was adamant on Wednesday that she would not step down after more than 20 years despite questions over whether she was fit for office.
It follows last week’s headlines which revealed Cr Long was seeking reimbursement by taxpayers after she hired a private solicitor to take out an intervention order against a resident.
Legal action was taken last year after Cr Long allegedly received a threatening phone call from the female resident – also a former councillor – which caused significant distress.
While specifics of the alleged phone call remained confidential, Cr Long previously described the conversation as “very, very nasty.”
It is understood Cr Long reported the matter to Victoria Police before enlisting a solicitor who attended Dandenong Magistrates Court on three separate occasions to gain the order.
But in a City of Greater Dandenong Council meeting on Monday it was determined by a unanimous vote that Cr Long would not be reimbursed the $8903.71 cost.
Cr Long earlier argued the matter was council related as she would not have received the call if she were not an elected member and therefore should be reimbursed.
The matter was initially marked as confidential but due to public interest Monday’s motion was able to be viewed publicly as details from council papers had already leaked online.
Cr Long, who has served as a councillor from 1997-2005 and 2008-present, refused to be drawn on the meeting’s outcome on Wednesday.
“Council had made its decision,” she told the Herald Sun.
Resident Dom Boc was among the many community members calling for Cr Long to call time on her leadership.
“Cr Long must resign on the grounds that she has lost vision of what is her role as a councillor,” he said.
“This role of a councillor does not include personal greed for financial benefits at the expense of her constituents and other rate payers of the city of greater Dandenong.
“The game is up, the siren has gone and she needs to leave the playing field.”
Ratepayers Victoria spokesman Dean Hurlston told the Herald Sun he was concerned that Cr Long deemed it appropriate to expect taxpayers to foot the bill.
“Council is not a bank,” Mr Hurlston said.
“Further Cr Long appears to have broken the confidentiality provisions in the Local Government Act and has unfairly named the private resident whom the matter relates to.
“How does any of this demonstrate a focus on the community she was elected to serve? It doesn’t. Cr Long’s actions have likely brought council embarrassment.”
Mr Hurlston urged serving councillors to call on Cr Long for her resignation.
The City of Greater Dandenong Council has been approached for comment.
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Originally published as Calls to dump Dandenong councillor Angela Long over legal bill request
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