Committee member resigns

By TANIA MARTIN
AN EMERALD Village Committee member has resigned after just one official meeting.
Following the first meeting of the committee last week, nominations are being called to fill a vacancy left by the resignation of Garth Jenkinson.
Mr Jenkinson has resigned after the elected committee members were asked by the Cardinia Shire Council to declare their financial statement of interest.
The council elected 12 delegates to the EVC committee in June after a lengthy election process, with the committee being set up as an arm of the council.
In July at a meeting announcing the office bearers for the committee, the council asked the delegates to declare a financial interest return.
The council told members that as an arm of the council, the committee was required to provide the interest return under the Local Government Act.
However, Mr Jenkinson said that the council did not advise the members of the EVC about the requirement to declare financial interests until after the delegates were elected.
Mr Jenkinson said he did not accept that the council had a right to require the financial information of unpaid voluntary committee members.
“Had prospective members of the EVC been advised before the election of the council’s requirements for members to lodge a statement of financial interest, I for one would not have stood for election,” Mr Jenkinson said.
However, the council’s manager of governance and communication, Doug Evans said that it was only Mr Jenkinson’s opinion that the EVC should have been notified prior to the elections and that he was entitled to his opinion.
EVC chairman Ed Chatwin said the committee was now seeking nominations to fill Mr Jenkinson’s position.
Mr Chatwin said the council’s requirements were available the council’s community liaison officer, Lenoar Gullquist.
Nominations close on Monday, 5 September, and should be sent to PO Box 489, Emerald 3782.
Mr Chatwin said the committee had already received two formal nominations and hopes to fill the vacancy at its next meeting on Tuesday, 13 September.