Support for new Mayor

Madam,

It was disconcerting to read your editorial of January 19 and the spate of ad hominem letters to the editor regarding Hay Shire councillors’ decision to appoint a new mayor of their selection. The long-lasting discord between Hay Shire Council and some of its bewildered electorate has ensured a surge of new nominating candidates and the electorate have decided for change. I have no doubt these same voters lobbied their candidates to opt for a clean sweep and regardless of some steadfast opposing views they are entirely within their rights to do so.

The OLG publishes candidate and mayoral profile reports, and it is a growing and recognised trend to nominate not only “green” candidates but mayoral candidates also. Our new mayor may be an unanticipated choice after a decades long local trend to maintain the status quo, but the political arena is changing dramatically and for the 28 per cent of voters that supported the outgoing mayor there were over 70 per cent that didn’t share that view. It would be a very blinkered expectation of any automatic ‘return to office’ after the public outrage and resulting investigations since Dec 2018. The Local Govt Act is clearly defined and not overly onerous for new councillors to familiarise themselves with; most contemporary NSW councils actively encourage all councillors and mayors to upskill and attend training in meeting procedure as defined by the Act.

Anyone alluding to secret meetings as some new conspiracy tactic must have never attended any Council meeting to witness the note passing, whispering, nudging and number stacking that is obvious to anyone in attendance.

I am very pleased to see some new faces in Council and while I thank those outgoing councillors for their efforts and their achievements it is now time for us to focus on future opportunities through incentive and industry that will address our fast-declining population base rather than pushing further negativity by quibbling about who sits in what seat. The new Mayor has many years of administrative experience, she is articulate and knowledgeable, with a very strong network of family and friends.

The decision to elect the mayor by popular or councillor vote can be changed by constitutional referendum as can Council also opt to change the time of day the Council meeting is held as it has hardly been conducive or encouraging for tradespeople, business owners and employees to attend.

Yours sincerely

Annette Smith,

Moppett Street Hay .