A special meeting of the Whitsunday Regional Council will be held this morning at the Proserpine chamber to discuss the mayor’s motion to provide each councillor with a portfolio.
Early into her new term, Mayor Jennifer Whitney announced she would be preparing a portfolio for each councillor, similar to what a minister in the state government would be given.
"The idea of the portfolios is part of the package for one region. Each portfolio will come with a list and charter which will tell the councillor how they conduct themselves in each role and how they can speak with the press," the mayor said at last Wednesday’s council meeting before Cr David Clark interjected.
"I think it should be tabled until we understand the cost and the implications … it should have been workshopped," Cr Clark said.
Cr Kevin Collins called for the mayor to be allowed to finish her speech before they considered their vote.
"There won’t be any additional costs. There is nothing to be worried about inside the folios but as paid councillors the community expects us to be seen to be involved and this is more in keeping with the state and federal governments. The person in this new role will feed that information back to council at regular meetings."
Deputy Mayor Peter Ramage was in favour of the motion being tabled, saying there had been no information and no workshopping.
"We can work out what this really means to all our individual lives," he said.
Cr Jan Clifford said she found it highly amusing that "they don’t want to play when they don’t know what they are playing with".
Mayor Whitney said she would have dearly loved to have gotten the motion through however, she would vote with the majority.
"I don’t have a secretary, which the CEO is looking into for me … and I have had to do all this up myself and it has been a lot of work," the mayor said.
Her deputy Peter Ramage said it wouldn’t only be an educational process for the councillors, but for the community too.
"We’ll get calls from constituents who want to talk about roads or sewerage, and we’ll have to tell them, sorry it’s not me you need to talk to, even though I am the one you voted in, you’ve got to go to so-and-so and give them a 4945 number," he said.
The tabling was supported by all councillors except Cr Jan Clifford who wanted the folios handed down that day.
Mayor Whitney said of this morning’s meeting she dearly hoped the councillors would accept each of the roles she had chosen for them which are ....
Cr Peter Ramage - water and sewerage, waste health and regulation
Cr Jan Clifford - planning and development, businesses and housing
Cr Kevin Collins - tourism and economic development, airports, festival, events, the arts and grants
Cr Dave Clark - roads and drainage, quarries and jetties, boating, river trusts and pest management
Cr Andrew Willcox - finance and technology, rates, disaster management and fleet management
Cr John Collins - sport, recreational facilities, parks and the environment, community development and libraries, pools, lagoons and caravan parks.
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