Council boils over

By Bridget Cook
A FORMER councillor was forcibly removed from the Casey Council meeting by police on Tuesday night, and the council debated a proposal to sack its CEO.
It was the culmination of an extraordinary meeting that also resulted in two separate investigations being launched into officer and councillor conduct, with 18 allegations against a sitting councillor.
The meeting saw councillors resolve to request that the Auditor-General and Victorian Ombudsman investigate the processes undertaken by executive officers and the council in relation to a previously settled VCAT discrimination matter involving the CEO Mike Tyler and the City of Casey.
The discussion was sparked after metropolitan media reports revealed that a civil harassment claim was lodged at VCAT in July 2010 against Mr Tyler by a former council staff member.
Councillor Kevin Bradford raised a motion calling on the council to terminate its contract with Mr Tyler immediately – but the motion was lost.
The council also resolved to refer 18 various issues of alleged inappropriate conduct by Cr Bradford to a Councillor Conduct Panel – a move put forward by councillor Bob Halsall.
While deliberating the matter, Cr Halsall used a profanity which he alleged Cr Bradford called his wife during her time as Casey mayor, which caused a public uproar from the chamber.
The outrage from residents resulted in the council meeting being suspended and police being called to remove former Casey councillor Paul Richardson from the chamber.
Mr Richardson refused to leave the meeting when asked to by Casey mayor Sam Aziz, after continued disruptions.
Despite attempts by local law officers and police to get Mr Richardson to leave peacefully, officers had to forcibly remove Mr Richardson from the chamber.
Another local resident was also escorted out by police.
For more on the investigations and the removal of Mr Richardson, turn to pages two and three of the News.