Bayside Council issues new expenses rules

BAYSIDE councillors will have to pay back ratepayers out of their own pockets if they fail to show at events. It comes after two councillors missed a ratepayer-funded conference in Canberra to attend a Liberal Party meeting which descended into violence.

The allowances of Paul Sedrak and Ron Bezic have been withheld to repay ratepayers over their conference no-show.

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COUNCILLORS will have to pay back ratepayers out of their own pockets if they fail to show at events.

The new Bayside Council regulations, voted through earlier this month, come after two councillors missed a ratepayer-funded conference in Canberra to attend a Liberal Party meeting which descended into violence.

Bayside ratepayers were left $4540 out of pocket after Cr Ron Bezic and Cr Paul Sedrak skipped a local government conference in June.

They were instead at a Bayside Liberal Party branch meeting at Cr Michael Nagi’s cafe in Arncliffe which ended in a brawl.

The brawl happened outside of Cr Michael Nagi’s Arncliffe cafe

At the time council had no power to ensure the pair paid back the cost of the conference.

In the aftermath Cr Sedrak told the Southern Courier he would pay back any costs out of his own pocket. Cr Bezic did not respond to our calls.

Last week a council spokesman said both councillors’ allowances had been withheld to cover the costs.

The new council rules state the “mayor/councillor shall be personally liable to repay all amounts to council,” if there is no good reason for their non attendance. Bayside expenses papers reveal councillors are entitled to $11,000, the deputy mayor $12,000 and mayor $15,000 annually.

This is on top of their general salary.