Launceston councillor Joe Pintarich cautioned after breaching Local Government code of Conduct

A Northern Tasmanian councillor involved in a decades-long legal stoush with a well-known local business has been cautioned for breaching council code. But he’s risen to defend his actions.

Launceston housing generic. Picture: Alex Treacy

A Launceston City councillor has been cautioned after he was found in breach of the Local Government Code of Conduct – but he has hit back on the “extremely disappointing” decision.

The Panel found Joe Pintarich to be in breach of decision-making relating to his participation and voting on a particular planning matter at a council meeting.

Mr Pintarich, also known as Pentridge, continued his position as sole director/shareholder of Connector Park Pty Ltd after his election to councillor last year.

The company has been involved in ongoing alleged breach of contract litigation with RV Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of JAC Group.

Dean Murray Cocker, the managing director of JAC Group, raised concerns to LCC of Mr Pintarich “attending workshops and voting on applications” tendered by JAC Group.

Newly elected City of Launceston councillor, businessman Joe Pintarich (a.k.a. Pentridge). Picture: City of Launceston

In one instance, Mr Pintarich attended a December 15 LCC meeting, during which a development application was lodged by the JAC Group, in which he did not declare any conflict of interest.

Mr Pintarich then remained in the meeting and voted in favour of the application.

The Code of Conduct Panel, made up of chairman Rob Winter, Local Government member Andrew Paul and legal member Don Jones, stated that it was only Mr Pintarich’s involvement at the December 15 council meeting and his “long history of, and ongoing litigation between, the two companies” that was in breach of conduct.

“There is clear evidence of the history, and ongoing nature of the litigation, and there is also clear evidence of the perception of the litigation in the broader community,” the Panel said.

“The Panel was of the view that a reasonable person, would acting in good faith and exercising reasonable judgement, have removed himself or herself from the room.

“Councillor Pintarich’s failure to do so was a breach of the Code of Conduct.”

Mr Pintarich called the decision “extremely disappointing”.

“The report is worded so that there is no room for argument,” Mr Pintarich said.

“This is based off of litigation that started in 2003 and has been appealed and delayed for years.

“This decision starts a precedent that if you have a disagreement with a councillor, you can complain to Panel to effect it.”

Mr Pintarich said that his vote in favour of the JAC Group’s application was based on the benefits the project would bring to the Launceston community.

“If a JAC Group project was of great benefit to the community, of course I would vote for it,” he said.

“My role is solely to represent the best interests of the community and that’s what I did when I voted.”