Integrity monitor appointed at City of Casey as IBAC hearings continue
As City of Casey councillors are put through the wringer at IBAC hearings, an integrity monitor has been appointed at the council to keep tabs on its processes and culture.
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An integrity monitor has been installed at the City of Casey as the state watchdog continues its public hearings into the embattled council amid allegations of dodgy donations with property developers.
Local government minister Adem Somyurek has appointed Laurinda Gardner — who sits on the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission board — to take up the position immediately.
It comes as the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission’s public hearings into Operation Sandon continue.
Ms Gardner will identify whether any councillors “are behaving in a manner that does not accord with the role of councillor”, along with overseeing council decision-making.
The extraordinary step comes as the inquiry has heard multiple councillors allegedly received thousands of dollars in developer donations amid important rezoning decisions.
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“People in the City of Casey rightly expect the highest standards from their council and that the services they rely on are being delivered,” Mr Somyurek said.
“I want to make sure that the council has the governance processes and culture in place to best serve its community.”
She will hold the position until January 31 next year.
The appointment came as the Casey council instructed employees not to wear their work lanyards amid reports of public abuse.