Minutes Special Electors Meeting · Graham Maley Helen Jefferys Jenny Griffiths Barry Griffiths Gene Hannington Shelly Birch Murray Stokes Lyn Stokes Gerard Gilbertson Ivan Beard

Special Electors Meeting held Wednesday 22 August 2007, Leeman Recreation Centre Page 1

Note: These Minutes have yet to be confirmed

Minutes

Special Electors Meeting

held 7.30pm, Wednesday 22 August 2007Leeman Recreation Centre

1. OPENING: ................................................................ ................................................................ ..................2

2. RECORD OF ATTENDANCE/APOLOGIES:........................................................................................ 2

3. BACKGROUND:................................ ........................................................................................................ 3

4. DISCUSSIONS: .......................................................................................................................................... 4

5. DECISIONS: ................................ ............................................................................................................. 19

6. FURTHER BUSINESS................................ .............................................................................................19

7. CLOSURE:................................................................ ................................................................ ................19



1. OPENING:

The President, Cr Moira Girando, welcomed all those present and opened the meetingat 7.39pm.

2. RECORD OF ATTENDANCE/APOLOGIES:

Cr Moira Girando, PresidentCr Belinda McDonald, Green HeadCr Jan Waite, CoorowCr Graham Eaton, LeemanCr Betty O’Callaghan, CoorowCr Damien Rackemann, LeemanCr Gary George, Green HeadMr Gary Sherry, CEOMr Dacre Alcock, MFAMr Kelvin Bean, Acting MWSMr John Randall, MCDDerek Fowler, CoorowGraham Burgoyne, LeemanLesley Chamberlain, Green HeadJohn McMaster, Green HeadLorraine Halliday, Green HeadEdith McMaster, Green HeadMeg Craike, LeemanRoss Craike, LeemanLyn Luen, LeemanRob Luen, LeemanDanny Lynch, LeemanJ Comley, LeemanG Litchfield, LeemanD Hannah, LeemanK Conder, LeemanP Conder, LeemanG Johns, CoorowGlenda Reed, Green HeadDon Ferguson, LeemanMarg Ferguson, LeemanCathy Gardiner, Green HeadBob Gardiner, Green HeadDick Coles, Green HeadSandra Trenowden, Green HeadKen Trenowden, Green HeadWayne Coughlan, CoorowStacey Coughlan, CoorowWill Browne, Warradarge

Bruce Jack, CoorowCarl Ciml, CoorowHelen Smith, LeemanPaul Smith, LeemanRic West, CoorowMichael Bothe, CoorowAlastair Falconer, CoorowRonald Bothe, CoorowHazel Bothe, CoorowDavid Falconer, CoorowPhil Stone, CoorowRay Falconer, CoorowNeville Bothe, CoorowGail Bothe, CoorowBaxter Bothe, CoroowYanti Vanzetti, CoorowJeanie Crago, CoorowBeth Southcott, CoorowJeff Bothe, CoorowJim Scott, GunyidiAlan Kau, CoorowKylie Brand, LeemanN Brand, LeemanBen Plozza, LeemanMaxine Kau, CoorowJo Wann, LeemanAnn McCormick, Green HeadJulie Taylor, Green HeadSandee Hunt, Green HeadGeoff Angwin, Green HeadSylvia Power, Green HeadStephen Power, Green HeadMichele Flanders, LeemanPeter Smith, LeemanPerry Anaru, LeemanGloria Anaru, LeemanAllan Williams, Green HeadPat Williams, Green HeadEmma Gladman, Coorow



Teresa Deering, LeemanBart Mailey, CoorowGlenise Just, LeemanKerry Meaker, LeemanHeni Tracey, LeemanLorraine Brellani, LeemanStefanie McTaggart, LeemanLaura Gilbertson, LeemanBrian McTaggart, LeemanTerry Brittain, LeemanKylie Litchfield, LeemanLance Litchfield, LeemanLorraine Cliff, LeemanIan Cliff, LeemanGlenys Haddleton, LeemanRobert Haddleton, Leeman

Hugh Campbell, LeemanSusan Murray, LeemanCraig Dovaston, LeemanSharon McTaggart, LeemanTony Dobbs, Green HeadP Williamson, Green HeadMark Bothe, CoorowKarolyn Bothe, CoorowJim Ovens, CoorowKath Ovens, CoorowSean Plozza, LeemanBen Plozza, LeemanGloria Anaru, LeemanPerry Anaru, Leeman

Apologies

Cr John StacyDeb LowdenGraham MaleyHelen JefferysJenny GriffithsBarry GriffithsGene HanningtonShelly BirchMurray StokesLyn Stokes

Gerard GilbertsonIvan BeardTerri BeardLloyd WannElsa WannColin HydeGreg WaiteGerry O’CallaghanFrank Crago

3. BACKGROUND:

Councillor Girando outlined that this Special Meeting of Electors has been called bythe formal request of 93 electors to discuss:

The Shire not construct an employee residence, at a cost in excess of$300,000, in Coorow and prepare a design, funding and implementationplan for suitable extensions to the Leeman Administration Centre to relocatethe MFA and administration staff.

In the interim, office space be sourced in the form of transportable offices orshort term hire of office space in the Telecentre which will alleviate theemployee housing shortage in Coorow.



4. DISCUSSIONS:

The Chief Executive Officer made a short presentation addressing the key issues ofemployee housing in the Shire of Coorow and any Administration relocation.























Cr Girando outlined that any decision of this Special Electors Meeting will beconsidered by Council at their next meeting. Cr Girando set out the rules forparticipating in the meeting, requiring all debate to be addressed through the chair,all participants to state their name, and that no abuse of staff, Council or otherparticipants would be permitted. The debate would initially be an opportunity forelectors to make statements and then the meeting would consider any motions thatthe meeting may wish to consider.

Cr Girando advised the meeting that the building company of which she is a partnerwas the successful tenderer. Further Cr Girando was only present at the generaldiscussions of Council up to the point at which her building company submitted atender. Following the submission of the tender, Cr Girando followed therequirements of the Local Government Act in full, declared her direct financialinterest in the decision of Council and was not present in the Council chamber whenthe decision to consider the tender was discussed and voted upon.

Cr Girando invited Terry Brittain, as the signatory to the request to hold this SpecialElectors Meeting to commence debate.

Mr Terry Brittain

Mr Brittain: outlined the importance of the upcoming Council Election in October – with

serious change being possible; there is a requirement for Councillors to consider the whole of shire rather than

represent an area within the Shire; asked why is it in the best interest of the whole Shire of Coorow to build a new

residence in Coorow? noted that the decision of Council went against the recommendation of the

officer; and why did Council not refurbish an old employee house in Coorow rather than sell

these buildings?

Staff ReplyIn the current labour market quality accommodation is required to attract qualitystaff. Such was the age and poor repair of the older houses sold by Council inCoorow, the benefits of refurbishment was far outweighed by the costs.

Ms Laura GilbertsonMs Gilbertson asked why is the Shire selling a modern house in Leeman? MsGilbertson also stated that she was not happy with the imbalance of the expenditurein the coastal region.



Staff ReplyCouncil had budgeted to sell the Tuart Street residence and expect to be able tolease accommodation for the new staff member and for the existing staff memberresiding in the Tuart Street house.

Ms Debbie HannahMs Hannah asked why Council selling one house in Leeman to buy the land, why not sell land in

Coorow? Why Council had not considered purchasing established housing in Coorow?

Ms Hannah was aware of a house in the same street as the Council office thatshe considered suitable that had been on the market for some time;

Why the area in the Leeman Recreation Centre could be used as a Library tomake room for extra office space in the Leeman Recreation Centre.

Staff ReplyLand in Coorow is worth considerably less than land in Leeman/Green Head and itwould not be possible to sell land in Coorow to purchase a block in Leeman.

The new house to be built will be to accommodate a Coorow based Plant Operator.Coorow based crew will still come to coast to do maintenance etc. as usual.

Mr Brian McTaggartMr McTaggart asked why is Council buying the lots under the houses already ownedby Council?

Staff ReplyCouncil wished to purchase the land to give Council the ability and flexibility to sellhouses in the future. At some point Council will have to extensibely renovate Lot 49Nairn Street at a high cost. It may be a better option to sell this house, once Councilowns the land, and reinvest in a new house in either Leeman or Green Head.

Mr Stephen PowerMr Power asked how is the value of the land under the house is set?

Staff ReplyThe price of land is set by the independent Valuer Generals Office.

Mr Ross CraikeMr Craike asked why did Council wait until now to buy this land? Was the cost for the Coorow house too high? why wasn’t the local tenderer for the new employee house cheaper?



Staff ReplyStaff had no explanation for why Council has not bought the land previously. Thecost for the Coorow house may be higher than for a metropolitan area, given thehigher cost of building in regional areas. The tender specifications included mattersnot always included in housing works such as external paths, heating/cooling, floortreatments, window dressings etc.

President ReplyCr Girando did advise that they as the local builder would still source contractors andbuilding materials from the metro area in the construction.

Mr Jeff AngwinMr Angwin outlined that the community were the people who provided the Councilwith their rate income. Mr Angwin asked about the tender process.

Staff ReplyThe tender for the new residence was advertised twice, the first in April 2007 withonly one tender received from Adherent Constructions for $323,925. Councilrejected this tender at their May 2007 meeting. Council then re-tendered andreceived three tenders from:• SJ & MJ Girando - $273,240;• Adherent Construction - $333,643; and• Freo Constructions - $452,167.Council selected the lowest of these tenders at the July 2007 Meeting.

Mr Allan WilliamsMr Williams asked: would the new house sell for $300,000? and has Council over-capitalised? why not buy a transportable house? why not buy the older brick and tile house?

Staff ReplyCertainly the real estate market in Coorow has increased significantly in the last 12months. Lot 11 Spain Street, purchased by Council in 2006 for $90,000 is now worthmore.

An older brick and tile house in Coorow is on the market for up to $250,000. IfCouncil was to utilise the new house for a long period the cost of $300,000 will proveto be good value over the long run.

Certainly Council sought to have transportable housing companies submit tenders,however they verbally indicated they were not going to tender and did not. Theyalso indicated a significant waiting period prior to delivery.



The other house is currently under lease for the next 18 months and not available toCouncil till after that time.

Mr Alan KauMr Kau asked: the current labour market conditions and any difficultly to compete with other

employers, particularly the mining sector? and does a better standard of house is improve Council’s ability to attract staff?

Staff ReplyCertainly it is difficult to compete with the mining sector in the labour market andproviding good conditions, including housing, are important to attract staff to comeand work for the Shire of Coorow.

UnknownFor what price does Council rent housing to staff?

Staff ReplyCouncil significantly subsidises rental to employees. Currently Council staff pay $35per week rent for all Council houses. Council can review this. The current marketrental in Coorow would be in the region of $110 to $130 per week.

Mr Gavin JohnsMr Johns reminded the meeting that the Council works staff are not well paid incomparison to other industries and the benefit provided by subsidised rentalaccommodation would assist in attracting and keeping staff.

President ReplyThe Council works crew is located where it is most accessible to the road networkrequiring works on an ongoing basis. This placement of staff leads to an efficientuse of their time by minimising travel wherever possible

Mr Neil Brand

Mr Brand believed that more works staff and larger machinery need to be located inthe coastal sector of the Shire and the conditions of the roads around his propertyare not good.



5. DECISIONS:

Cr Girando advised that the meeting would close at about 9pm and that the meetingmay wish to consider a resolution that would be considered by Council at the nextmeeting.

MOTION:

Moved: Mr Terry Brittain Seconded: Mr Ross Craike

That Council withdraw from the contract for construction of employee housing at Lot123 Commercial Street, Coorow subject to the successful negotiation of withdrawalcosts.

LOST

RESOLUTION:

Moved: Mr Terry Brittain Seconded: Mr Brian McTaggart

That Council fully consider:1. the relocation of administration staff to the Leeman Administration Centre;2. proceeds of the sale of any properties in Leeman be directed to the Leeman

Administration Centre; and3. concentrate on providing employee housing in Leeman or Green Head.

CARRIED

6. FURTHER BUSINESS

The Chief Executive Officer, Mr Gary Sherry, reminded everyone in attendance ofthe upcoming Local Government Election and explained enrolment eligibility. MrSherry reminded ratepayers that just because they owned property in the Shire ofCoorow, they may not necessarily be on the electoral roll. Mr Sherry encouragedelectors to register for a postal vote.

7. CLOSURE:

The President, Cr Moira Girando thanked everyone for their attendance andcourtesy at this meeting and closed the meeting at 9.10pm.

Minutes Special Electors Meeting · Graham Maley Helen Jefferys Jenny Griffiths Barry Griffiths Gene Hannington Shelly Birch Murray Stokes Lyn Stokes Gerard Gilbertson Ivan Beard

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