Report from the Gallery – 25th September 2012

Ibis flying over Marrickville

This was an Extraordinary Council Meeting.  Tonight’s meeting was to vote in the new Mayor, Deputy Mayor & committee Chairs & members.  A private Aboriginal Smoking Ceremony was held in the Council Chambers for the new Councillors & the Executive team.

The Councillors & Wards are as follows – LABOR:  Iskandar/Central, Haylen/North, Tsardoulias/West, Woods/South. GREENS:  Phillips/Central, Ellsmore/North, Brooks/West, Leary/South.  LIBERALS: Gardener/North, Tyler/West INDEPENDENT:  Macri/Central, Hanna/South.

The following is how I understood the meeting & all mistakes are mine.

We arrived after the vote for Mayor & Deputy. I was told that the following happened –

1.   The position of Mayor was between Clrs Macri & Phillips.  Labor  Clrs Tsardoulias, Iskandar, Woods & Haylen & Liberal Clrs Gardener & Tyler voted Clr Macri for Mayor.  Greens Clrs Phillips, Ellsmore, Brooks & Leary voted against. Clr Hanna left the Chamber choosing not to vote.  Councillor Macri was voted Mayor.

2.   Councillor Tsardoulias was voted Deputy Mayor.  Labor Clrs Iskandar, Woods & Haylen, Independent Mayor Macri & Liberal Clrs Gardener & Tyler voted Clr Tsardoulias for Deputy Mayor.  Greens Clrs Phillips, Ellsmore, Brooks & Leary voted against. Clr Hanna remained outside the Chambers choosing not to vote.

3.   Appointment of Councillors as representatives of Council on Statutory & Special Committees until September 2013 –

PEDESTRIAN, CYCLIST & TRAFFIC CALMING ADVISORY COMMITTEE – Mayor Macri & Deputy Mayor Tsardoulias. Clrs Tyler, Ellsmore & Haylen as backup if neither Mayor or Deputy available.

ABORIGINAL CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE – Clrs Ellsmore & Iskandar.

NEWTOWN ART SEAT CURATORIAL COMMITTEE –  Clrs Gardener & Ellsmore.

ARTIST IN RESIDENCY ADVISORY COMMITTEE – Clr Brooks.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & SUPPORT EXPENDITURE SCHEME COMMITTEE –  Deputy Mayor Tsardoulias & Clr Brooks.

COOKS RIVER ALLIANCE BOARD – Mayor Macri & Deputy Mayor Tsardoulias.

COUNCIL AUDIT COMMITTEE – Mayor Macri.

DEBBIE & ABBIE BORGIA COMMUNITY RECREATION CENTRE ADVISORY COMMITTEE – Mayor Macri & Clr Iskandar. Brooks.

GREENWAY STEERING COMMITTEE – Clrs Gardener, Brooks & Woods.

HERITAGE PROMOTIONS COMMITTEE – Clrs Tyler & Leary.

MAJOR PROJECTS STEERING COMMITTEE – Mayor Macri & Deputy Mayor Tsardoulias & all Councillors.

MARRICKVILLE ACCESS COMMITTEE – Clrs Woods & Tyler.

MARRICKVILLE COOKS RIVER COMMITTEE – Clrs Leary, Tyler & Woods.

MARRICKVILLE ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE – Clrs Gardener, Woods & Brooks.

MARRICKVILLE FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE – Clrs Woods & Leary.

MARRICKVILLE PARENTS CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE – Clrs Woods, Phillips & Tyler.

MARRICKVILLE TRANSPORT COMMITTEE – Clrs Ellsmore & Haylen.

SAFETY IN MARRICKVILLE COMMITTEE – Clrs Brooks & Woods.

SISTER CITIES COMMITTEE – Clrs Iskandar, Tyler & Leary.

GREEN LIVING CENTRE STEERING COMMITTEE – Clrs Gardener & Ellsmore.

4.  Appointment of Councillors as Representatives on External Organisations and Bodies –

SSROC – Mayor Macri, Deputy Mayor Tsardoulias & Clrs Woods & Tyler.  Clr Ellsmore stood & was defeated.

METRO POOL – Mayor Macri.

SYDNEY AIRPORT COMMUNITY FORUM – Mayor Macri.

ROADS & TRAFFIC AUTHORITY CONSULTATIVE FORUM – Mayor Macri.  A vote was held between Clrs Wood & Tyler. Mayor Macric gave his casting vote to Clr Tyler.

METROPOLITAN PUBLIC LIBRARIES ASSOCIATION – Clrs Gardener & Ellsmore will share the role.

5.  Determination of Meeting Structure & Appointment of Council Committees –

DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE – Clrs Iskandar & Leary were nominated for position of Chair. Mayor Macri, Clrs Tyler, Tsardoulais, Woods, Haylen voted for Clr Iskandar.  Clrs Phillips, Brooks & Ellsmore voted for Clr Leary. Clrs Hanna & Gardener abstained from voting.  Clr Iskandar is Chair.

Clrs Tyler & Leary were nominated for position of Deputy Chair.  Clrs Iskandar, Phillips, Brooks & Ellsmore voted for Clr Leary.  Mayor Macri & Clrs Gardener, Tsardoulias, Woods, Haylen & Hanna voted for Clr Tyler. Clr Tyler is Deputy Chair. 

COMMUNITY CORPORATE SERVICES COMMITTEE – Clr Haylen Tsardoulias is Chair. All Clrs voted for her, him except for Clr Hanna who voted against.  Deputy Chair is Clr Brooks with a unanimous vote.

INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES COMMITTEE –  Clr Tyler was unanimously voted as Chair. Clr Ellsmore was unanimously voted as Deputy Chair.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN DUBBO – Deputy Mayor Tsardoulias & Clrs Iskandar, Woods & Brook as voting members with Clr Gardener attending, but not voting.

I hope I got this down correctly. It was a fast meeting finished by 7.06pm

This rather remarkable hand-drawn diagram was taped up on the back wall of Marrickville Council Chambers. It maps out the functions of Marrickville Council & has some very positive messages pertaining to the value of the individual. I will take better photos the next Council Meeting I attend. Apparently it will remain on this wall. I think Council should frame it & possibly print it out & include it in one of their publications.