Coronavirus: Ryde Council passes its pandemic plan at emergency meeting

In an extraordinary meeting held on Tuesday night Ryde Council — which controls the coronavirus hotbed around Macquarie Park — put in place a series of emergency arrangements and delegations as part of a special pandemic plan.

• Macquarie University student tests positive for COVID-19
• Macquarie University suspends classes, moves online

Ryde Council have decided to support emergency arrangements and delegations as part of a special pandemic plan in the event councillors are not able to convene due to COVID-19.

In an extraordinary meeting held on Tuesday night the council voted to delegate authority to the mayor and general manager to exercise functions of the council.

While councillors on both sides said they were hoping for a quick and unanimous decision, it appeared politics got in the way once again.

During the meeting, Liberal councillors Jordan Lane and Trenton Brown called for amendments to the move including the requirement for a sick representative to provide a medical certificate yet Labor Cr Bernard Purcell disputed it.

In a Facebook post after the meeting Mayor Jerome Laxale said council supported the emergency arrangements and delegations.

“I do not want any red tape or an unnecessary restriction stopping our ability to use the City’s resources to protect and support our citizens,” he said.

“Saying that, I’m hoping for swift legislative reform so that council can function without the use of these delegations.”

The local government area has been a hotbed for the illness in recent weeks.

Three residents of Dorothy Henderson Lodge have died from COVID-19, and another seven people associated with the Macquarie Park nursing home have contracted the virus.

In addition a doctor from Ryde Hospital contracted the virus and on Tuesday a Macquarie University student tested positive.

Ryde Council will tonight discuss a special pandemic plan to ensure council can safely operate in the “evolving” coronavirus pandemic.

Tuesday night’s decision follows the council's business continuity plan enacted from March 6 which includes promoting safe hygiene practices; enhanced cleaning of public spaces including town centres, libraries, the aquatic centre and common work spaces; and leave provisions for staff who need to self-isolate.

A recent report prepared by the council’s corporate governance manager John Schanz has advised the need for a risk management plan to ensure it can operate amid possible disruptions from the virus.

It stated there was a “very high likelihood” council’s ordinary operations including its leadership will be impacted by COVID-19.

Councillors will decide what to do if council was not able to convene due to COVID-19, as well as decide delegations to the general manager in the event of his absence. (AAP IMAGE / Troy Snook)

Recommendations include delegating authority to the mayor and/or deputy mayor and general manager jointly if there are any restrictions on the council’s ability to convene in meetings or obtain a quorum if councillors were affected by COVID-19.

Entry to Ryde Council Chambers at Ryde (AAP IMAGE / Troy Snook)

It was also recommended that if the council’s general manager George Dedes is sick and absent from work for more than two consecutive work days, then the director of corporate services was to step in as general manager, followed by the director of planning and environment, and city works director respectively in the case of each of them being absent.

The general manager is responsible for the operational issues of Council including the safety and welfare of staff.