ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC
By ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC
AT the Baw Baw Shire council meeting on Wednesday, April 26, former Mayor Joe Gauci resigned from his position as Baw Baw Shire Central Ward Councillor after more than a decade of service. Baw Baw Shire Mayor, Annemarie McCabe informed the public on Thursday: “At last night’s ordinary council meeting, Joe Gauci resigned his position as a Baw Baw Shire Central Ward Councillor. In doing so, he made some allegations about council processes and conduct. “His allegations will be taken seriously. They will be fully investigated, and appropriate action taken in due course. “Further updates will be provided when appropriate,” the Mayor added. At the council meeting, Mr Gauci said he was proud to be part of leadership that has tried to achieve better outcomes for the shire, but continued on in a four-minute address to explain his grievances with council. “It seems ironic to me though that the people I care for the most, my family, have been negatively affected by me being a councillor,” Mr Gauci said. “I listen to all organisations including the Baw Baw Shire talk about mental health and how that is the number one priority, but it seems to me this is not how we deal with the individuals dealing with council.” Though details remain unclear, Mr Gauci refers to general misconduct of council processes when his family had dealt with the council. “No one should be disadvantaged because they also know a councillor,” he said. Mr Gauci raised concerns that his position has led to his family’s detriment. “I have always assumed that everyone should be treated equally, over the last three years I have seen this is not quite how things work … I honestly believe it’s because of my position as a councillor on Baw Baw Shire that parts of my family have been treated unfairly in so many ways.” Mr Gauci expressed the mental anguish he and his family members have faced over an issue put to council. “There never once has been contact of officers to myself to see how things were going, this in itself is inexcusable and needs to be addressed.” Mr Gauci revealed that new issues had arisen in the past week and influenced his decision to resign. Mayor McCabe voiced her appreciation for the former councillor. “Mr Gauci has served Baw Baw Shire for 11 years as councillor, including three terms as mayor. Many in the community will have worked closely with him over this time, and his sudden resignation will come as a shock to them as it has to me. On behalf of Baw Baw Shire Council, I’d like to express our gratitude for his service.” Plans to reinstate a new councillor are ongoing, the mayor reassured. “With regards to Mr Gauci’s vacated Central Ward seat on council, we are now in contact with the Victorian Electoral Commission and the required procedures are underway,” the mayor said in a statement. “We will work through the next steps and processes in accordance with VEC regulations, and will provide an update as soon as possible.” Mr Gauci’s resignation comes as the Municipal Association of Victoria warn of Councillor Mistreatment. In a statement from Municipal Association Victoria, President Cr David Clark said that with a rise of disruptive behaviour and civil unrest being felt by all levels of government in many parts of the world, councils have not been immune. “This ongoing behaviour is threatening and unpredictable, and it has no place in our communities and shouldn’t be accepted at any level of government or board,” he said. Cr Clark said that all councils now provide live streaming of council meetings, so every resident can continue to watch and see the council making decisions. With reports of a City of Monash council meeting suspended due to 200 people presenting to its office in Glen Waverly with unruly behaviour recently, Cr Clark said that ensuring the safety of a council’s respective community, employees, and councillors is number one priority.
