WODONGA’S mayor has accused councillor Tim Quilty of mouthing sweeping statements and throwaway lines that “actually mean nothing”.
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Anna Speedie went on the offensive against her colleague at Monday night’s council meeting after he queried how the city’s budget surplus should be reallocated.
Cr Quilty suggested putting a $221,001 excess into the council’s 2019-20 budget planning process would see councillors unable to determine how it was spent.
“I really want the councillors to decide how to spend this money or not spend it, not to have it presented to us as a done deal when the budget pops out next year, all tied up in new projects waiting for our rubber stamp,” he said.
“I believe we should be committing all the available surplus funds to a capital reserve, we could call that the ‘Baranduda Fields capital reserve’ or alternatively ‘the shortfall in developer contributions in Leneva-Baranduda valley reserve’.”
Cr Speedie responded fiercely to Cr Quilty.
“I’m actually quite offended because you may not do the work at budget time, but I sure as heck do,” she said.
“I go through every line to make sure I actually understand what it is we’re budgeting for, so I find it incredibly offensive when you talk about rubber stamping and you make comments like you do.
“It just astounds me that you can continue to make sweeping statements and throwaway lines that actually mean nothing.”
Former mayor John Watson supported Cr Speedie.
“It’s in our hands Cr Quilty to be able to put forward what we want as a city of where we want to take it on these planning days,” he said.
Cr Quilty and councillor Ron Mildren voted against the recommendation to carry over the surplus, with the majority of their colleagues in favour.
In talking to the next agenda item, Cr Quilty invoked Cr Speedie’s criticism.
“Alright, I’d suggest you get prepared for so more sweeping statements and throwaway lines,” he said as he outlined his views on new lifts at the council’s headquarters.