THE challenges are set to continue for the administrators of the Wangaratta Council.
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This week the council confirmed the bill for costs associated with last year’s governance crisis which led to the sacking of the council had hit $2 million and the figure was continuing to climb.
Yesterday, former councillor, Julian Fidge initiated defamation action against the council in the Wangaratta Magistrates Court.
His claim makes a settlement offer to the council for $100,000 plus costs to meet his losses of $80,000 in councillor allowances and $15,000 so far in legal costs.
It also seeks an apology and a correction of comments made against him in the council’s official records.
Dr Fidge says he is seeking a resolution of the matter without the need for a hearing.
But he says the council’s response to a notice he lodged in March of the relevant defamatory material was dismissive of his concerns despite the hurt and embarrassment he had borne as a result of repeated allegations.
The council won’t comment on Dr Fidge’s action, but it has 21 days to decide if it will defend the complaints and take this saga in yet another direction.