No diary for mayor

By Kelly Yates
CASEY mayor Lorraine Wreford will not have to provide the council with a diary, detailing her mayoral duties during her campaign as the Liberal candidate for the state seat of Mordialloc in the 2010 state election.
Council had previously moved to force Cr Wreford to diarise both her mayoral and Liberal Party commitments, during the campaign.
But at Tuesday night’s council meeting, Springfield Ward councillor Sam Aziz moved a notice of motion, rescinding the previous council decision.
He said he had seen no evidence of Cr Wreford abandoning her responsibilities to focus on campaigning for the state election, or misusing or abusing the mayoral car.
Councillor Wayne Smith says it will be Cr Wreford’s decision whether she uses the mayoral car for her campaigning efforts.
“It’s her decision, but she’ll have to wear the consequences,” he said.
“The ratepayers will have their say about what happens at the next election.”
Cr Smith said former mayors of the City of Casey had used the mayoral car to drive to Queensland for family holidays.
Edrington Ward councillor Simon Curtis said Cr Wreford shouldn’t be worried if she had nothing to hide.
Cr Lynette Keleher said keeping a record of events attended by the mayor and other councillors would help provide a “transparent council.”
“Some other councils are already doing this. It ensures councillors are accountable to the residents.”
All of the Casey councillors will now have the opportunity to display events, meetings and functions they attend on the council website.
Cr Smith, who raised that item as a further motion during the meeting, said the system allowing attendances to be recorded should be up and running by May.