Ratepayers could reimburse Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun’s legal fees up to $50,000

Ratepayers could be slapped with a hefty bill of up to $50k to cover a southwest Sydney mayor’s legal fees if any are incurred, following a brief decision councillors made behind closed doors.

Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun. Picture: Monique Harmer

Ratepayers could be slapped with a hefty bill of up to $50,000 to cover the Liverpool mayor’s defamation fees if any are incurred, following a three-minute decision councillors made behind closed doors.

Liverpool City councillors passed a motion to reimburse Ned Mannoun’s legal expenses “with the claim to a maximum of $50,000” during a closed session of the March ordinary council meeting.

There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing in relation to the motion being passed. Mr Mannoun was not present for the closed session.

Independent community campaigner Michael Andjelkovic sent a concerns notice to Mr Mannoun on February 9 following a council community forum at Edmondson Park on November 14.

In a recording on council’s YouTube channel, Mr Andjelkovic told a panel of council officials: “I’ve been banned from asking questions of the staff by the CEO as well as being blocked by a few councillors, three of whom are here today.”

Liverpool community campaigner Michael Andjelkovic.

Mr Mannoun – flanked by Deputy Mayor Fiona Macnaught, councillor Karress Rhodes and Richard Ammoun – said: “I can explain to people why you’re getting blocked from the councillors and the CEO. Ultimately council doesn’t appreciate getting racist emails.”

This claim is strongly denied by Mr Andjelkovic, who in a letter served to Mr Mannoun said he had “suffered considerable distress, embarrassment, humiliation and upset” and the matter had caused “serious harm to his reputation”.

Liverpool councillor Richard Ammoun, Mayor Ned Mannoun, Deputy Mayor Fiona Macnaught and councillor Karress Rhodes at the community forum at Edmondson Park in November.

In documents seen by this publication, Mr Andjelkovic’s lawyer requested Mr Mannoun to write a letter of apology, publish an apology to Facebook and pay for their client’s $1650 legal costs.

Mr Mannoun said there were no legal proceedings “arising out of my position and duties as mayor”.

“I have not personally engaged any legal counsel for any legal matters in relation to my position as mayor and therefore I have not accrued any legal expenses and have not sought reimbursement of any,” he said.

Mr Mannoun confirmed the council received a legal letter regarding a community forum and the content published on the council’s social media platforms.

He said the council’s legal teams “led the response using internal and external resources” and notified its insurer.

Mr Andjelkovic said that was an action he “did not consider lightly”.

“There has been no attempt to resolve this matter via mediation but rather just a flat denial and refusal of my notice of concern,” he said.

The council resolved that any legal expenses for fees charged must not exceed the hourly charge rate of council’s solicitors and any reimbursements need to be approved by the council prior to payment.

The council also resolved any reimbursement would be reduced by the amount the mayor might recoup following any legal proceedings.

Mr Mannoun said the recommendation provided to council under confidential cover was “not accurate” because it “should have related to that insurance policy rather than legal expenses”.

“I declared a conflict of interest in this matter, and was not privy to the contents or recommendations of the report, and did not participate in it and left the chambers when it was dealt with. I have now raised this matter with the CEO.”

Michael Andjelkovic (left) outside Leppington train station. Picture: Melanie Russell

Mr Mannoun launched separate legal proceedings against former Liverpool councillor Peter Ristevski, and confirmed he was “paying all legal costs in relation to this matter” in a personal capacity. The proceedings are being defended by Mr Ristevski who is set to plead the “truth” defence.

A Liverpool Council spokesman said the motion was passed unanimously and the mayor and all councillors are covered for indemnity in accordance with the civic expenses and facilities policy of council.

“An amount by way of excess, to a maximum of $50,000, is payable in accordance with the Insurance Policy,” the spokesman said.

The spokesman said no proceedings had started and only a concerns notice had been sent.

A Local Government Department spokeswoman said while the office was “not aware” of the decision, councils are “permitted to meet the legal expenses of councillors in certain circumstances in accordance with the councillor expenses and facilities policy of that particular council”.