Letter of the law

A FORMER Casey councillor faces accusations of threatening and intimidating current councillors.
Paul Richardson, who lost his re-election bid last November, received a letter on 9 April from acting mayor Daniel Mulino saying that Cr Mulino had received representations from a number of councillors expressing concern about the tone and manner of both Mr Richardson’s email and telephone contact.
“Some councillors in particular feel threatened and intimidated,” Cr Mulino wrote.
Mr Richardson has been a frequent correspondent to councillors since losing his seat in the Four Oaks Ward.
The letter stated that all councillors had discussed the situation and agreed that such approaches from Mr Richardson were inappropriate.
Cr Mulino said Mr Richardson should be free to raise issues with councillors, but not in such a way that caused apprehension.
The letter asks Mr Richardson to refrain from forwarding emails directly to any councillor and also to refrain from telephoning them directly.
Cr Mulino said Mr Richardson could however send the emails to a general council email which would then be directed to councillors.
Mr Richardson has denied harassing councillors, saying as a resident and ratepayer of the City of Casey he had every right to contact the local councillors and express his views and concerns.