Mayor leaves room as ‘emotion runs rife’ during Alice Springs Town Council meeting

BOTH the Alice Springs Town Council mayor and deputy mayor left the virtual chamber as ‘emotions ran rife’ during a heated ­debate at council’s ordinary meeting

Deputy Mayor Matt Paterson and Mayor Damien Ryan. Picture: Anthony Geppa

BOTH the Alice Springs Town Council mayor and deputy mayor left the virtual chamber on Monday night during a heated ­debate at council’s ordinary meeting.

Mayor Damien Ryan said “emotions (were) running rife” as councillors debated over the requirements and process for appointing a mayor (principal member) and deputy mayor (deputy principal member) in anticipation of the resignations of both individuals to contest the Territory election on ­August 22.

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Upon the effective resignations of the mayor and deputy mayor, the council resolved to appoint an elected member to the role of principal member, who will remain in the role unless and until Mr Ryan successfully applies to the chief executive to be reinstated to the council (only if he is not elected to NT Legislative Assembly).

In this case the newly appointed principal member will remain appointed for the remainder of this council term.

But not all councillors were happy with the idea.

“We are ultimately appointing an acting principal who will then roll into being a principal without any other process in between,” councillor Jimmy Cocking said.

“I’m up for appointing and working this process with an acting principal for a period of time, and for the record I think that’s the process we should be taking and the fact that yourself (addressing the mayor) and the deputy mayor, both of who are running, are still around the table as part of this conversation and possibly even looking at voting on it, I think demonstrates some concerning processing.”

Alice Springs Town councillor Jimmy Cocking. Picture: Emma Murray

On this, deputy mayor Matt Patterson said he would “leave the room” if it “made (Mr Cocking) happy”.

Mr Ryan said he was “quite happy to leave as well” to leave the remaining five to make a decision.

“I find it very insulting what you’ve suggested councillor Cocking,” he said.

In a business paper it was recommended the voting process for the appointment of the principal member not occur until the resignations of the principal member and deputy principal member take effect.

“Nominations for the casual vacancy in the principal member role should be made at a special meeting of council, to be convened by the CEO, at the soonest opportunity following the resignations,” the report stated.

Councillors Cocking and Eli Melky voted against the motion, and Mr Melky said he will rescind motion at the earliest convenience.

Councillors Jamie de Brenni, Jacinta Price and Glen Auricht voted for.

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Background:

The Mayor, Mr Damien Ryan, and Deputy Mayor, Mr Matt Paterson, have been pre-selected by their respective political parties to run in the Territory Legislative Assembly Election (Territory Election), scheduled to take place on Saturday 22 August 2020.

However, if they are unsuccessful they can be reinstated to the council.

To be eligible to nominate as a candidate for the Territory Election, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor (and any other Elected Member) must first resign from Council.

To be eligible for reinstatement to Council following the Territory Election, the relevant parties must resign not more than 28 days before the close of nominations for the NT Legislative Assembly elections (Qualifying Period).

The Qualifying Period commenced on Thursday July 9 2020.

The nomination period for the Territory Election will open on 30 July 2020 and close at 12 noon on Thursday 6 August 2020.

If the Mayor and Deputy Mayor wish to be reinstated to the council, they may apply in writing to the CEO to be reinstated as a member within 7 days after the result of the election is known.