Democracy is “under attack” in Whittlesea, according to the city’s ostricised mayor Aidan McLindon, who has been barred from the council chambers and had restrictions placed on his interactions with councillors and council staff.
Council chief executive Craig Lloyd wrote to Cr McLindon on February 11 and 24 outlining alleged “intimidating” and “aggressive“ behaviour by the mayor towards council staff and councillors.
The confidential letters have been seen by Star Weekly.
On February 11, Mr Lloyd wrote that some councillors “reported feeling intimidated” by the mayor and that he felt unsafe to meet with Cr McLindon alone, and as a result had made a WorkSafe report.
Mr Lloyd’s letter also noted that “several psychological incident reports have been submitted by staff”.
“These reports relate to psychological harm and a fear of engaging with you, and trauma through reading/hearing your comments,” he wrote.
Mr Lloyd warned Cr McLindon he would face restrictions if he did not change his behaviour.
Then, on February 24, Mr Lloyd wrote that Cr McLindon had engaged in “intimidating behaviour” when questioning a senior staff member about council’s Rainbow Advisory Committee during the February 18 council meeting, resulting in an occupational health and safety report being lodged by the staff member.
He also noted “aggressive behaviour and language“ directed towards him at another meeting, and said Cr McLindon had intimidated councillors on the phone.
He also stated that Cr McLindon had “endangered the safety and wellbeing of some councillors” by claiming the political party they were members of was “targeting” him, and had potentially leaked confidential information, including his home address.
Mr Lloyd said that as a result, he had to introduce a range of measures to “protect the safety of councillors, officers and the community”.
Among the measures outlined by Mr Lloyd was that Cr McLindon would be unable to attend council meetings, briefings, induction or training sessions, or committee meetings in-person, and would be restricted to contacting councillors and council staff by email.
The measures will be reviewed on March 24, meaning Cr McLindon is prohibited from attending the March 18 council meeting in-person.
Speaking exclusively to Star Weekly, Cr McLindon said he felt the measures were “designed to disable me in my role and responsibilities as mayor”.
““Democracy is completely compromised and under attack in Whittlesea,” he said.
“It is a really cruel tactic that has been imposed on me.
“This is not how you are meant to run a council.”
As reported by Star Weekly, Whittlesea’s 10 other councillors passed a vote of no confidence in the mayor during the February 18 council meeting and called for his resignation from the role.
They also applied for the mayor to face internal arbitration over alleged breaches of the Model Councillor Code of Conduct.
Cr McLindon said he had “not be afforded natural justice and procedural fairness” and called for Local Government Minister Nick Staikos to intervene.
He said he would not “bow down to [the] internal pressure” as he was elected with the support of the community.
“The focus should be on the city,” he said.
“I feel for the residents who have been jaded for so many years.”
Long-time Mernda resident and community campaigner William Sharp also called for the councillors to focus their attention on the municipality.
Mr Sharp, who stood for election in Mernda ward and described himself as Cr McLindon’s “arch enemy” during the elections, said he felt the focus on the mayor was stopping council from operating as it should.
“I want stuff to be done in my area and at the moment, the council has imploded,” he said.
“[Cr McLindon] might be a good mayor; he might be a bad mayor … but they are not even letting him have a go.”
Cr McLindon said he planned to make a statement alongside his lawyer prior to Tuesday night’s council meeting.
Mr Staikos was contacted for comment.
