Kyabram resident Peter Croxford has identified himself as the individual mentioned at the February 18 council meeting who allegedly approached a council officer’s family member about an agenda item, prompting an urgent motion of business.
An urgent motion of business was raised at the beginning of the meeting to address this situation, calling for councillors to allow a zero-tolerance statement to be issued on council platforms against harassment and abuse of councillors, council officers and volunteers and their family members.
Speaking after the meeting, Campaspe Shire Mayor Daniel Mackrell said there were correct procedures to engage with council, and implored concerned community members to act appropriately.
The Free Press was told after the meeting that the incident that prompted the urgent motion of business was in relation to the Wilf Cox Pavilion redevelopment, which was to be debated as the first item of the meeting.
Mr Croxford contends that the council has misinterpreted his interaction with the council officer’s family member.
He argues the timing of the urgent motion influenced the decision regarding the redevelopment.
He wrote on Facebook about his side of the story.
In his account, he was dropping off a camping chair to the family member, who is a friend of his, and “had a brief discussion about the redevelopment”.
He denied there was ever “intimidation or bullying” and said council’s claim he approached “an elderly couple” was untrue, and he spoke to only one person.
Speaking with the Free Press, Mr Croxford said he believed the urgent motion of business being placed right before a decision was made about the future of the redevelopment was “used to sway votes”.
“It just puts a negative spin on the whole group ... they also did it to intimidate all the people that were at the meeting, the user groups and the concerned residents,” Mr Croxford said.
He said he felt it was council’s responsibility to apologise to him for taking his actions out of context, and questioned council’s motives.
“They need to resolve this and either offer an apology or to find out who the responsible person or persons were,” he said.
“They should apologise, or they should even be sacked.”
Council chief executive Pauline Gordon said council officers had already been preparing a zero-tolerance statement due to an “escalation of abuse”.
She said “recent incidents”, however, prompted council to expedite the process and present it as an urgent motion of business.
“It is inappropriate for any family member of an officer, councillor or volunteer to be approached by any member of the public regarding council business,” she said.
“Council is more than willing to respond to any respectful correspondence it receives through the appropriate channels, directly via phone, email, post or in person, but we do not monitor or respond to social media pages other than our own.
“We have multiple alternative ways that community members can address their concerns with us should they wish to contact us.”
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