FORMER Wangaratta councillor Lisa McInerney feels her decision to quit has been vindicated by Local Government Minister Jeanette Powell’s move to dismiss the council.
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Ms McInerney resigned at the height of the dramas in May when the senior management team headed by chief executive Doug Sharp also went on stress-related leave.
She regretted the minister had taken so long to make her decision and listed depression, anxiety and the loss of 20 kilograms as her personal toll from the crisis.
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“I have been crying since I heard the news,” she said.
“I feel sorry for the people who have been tarnished with the same brush.
“People have been hurt and my life has been a mess and I lost a role I was so passionate about.”
She won’t stand again and took a swipe at Cr Julian Fidge.
“A few people need to take responsibility for their actions and he is one of them.”
Roberto Paino and Lauren McCully lost their spots last October, but had continued to attend meetings.
“It is sad for Wangaratta it has come to this, but the minister had no choice,” Mr Paino said.
“You just can’t waste $1.5 million of ratepayers’ money.
“How many footpaths can you do and how many roads can you grade with that?”
Mrs McCully said she would stand for re-election in 2016.
“It is good to see the minister has finally done something,” she said.
“You could just see the vitriol coming out of these people.”
