Having read the editorial in CCN on October 31 (CCN 462), I contacted the two journalists who were present at (the Council) meeting on October 29; I think we all agreed that the editor had to be referring to another meeting.
To say that people set their differences aside and co-operated is simply not true.
There was constant disagreement and the railroading by the Liberal/Team Central Coast alliance was appalling.
In reference to the article on the following page (interview with the new mayor); the Team (Central Coast) councillors constantly voted with the Liberal councillors – once they gave way and allowed a councillor from another party to sit on a seat, which to be quite honest carries no weight whatsoever.
Email, Nov 1
Geoff Mitchell, Kariong
Thanks for your correspondence critiquing my recent editorial about council.
I do agree there appears to be a tight coalition between Team Central Coast and Liberal Councillors, something Team CC have assured the media does not exist formally, though we will continue to ask that question.
Formal coalition or not, the two groups have a functional majority when they wish to, that IS the very nature of the democratic chamber process.
To suggest otherwise is to ignore that very core tenant that a democratic process must ultimately decide who makes key decisions, something a simple majority in the chamber is designed to do.
I think it reasonable to interpret the new council, at their first meeting to be finding their feet after 4 years of administration. I believe my heading ‘A Glimmer of Hope … ‘ is apt, reasonable and accurate.
Rest assured in writing that editorial I took into account a broader vision than the formal council meeting, which was fractious at times, mainly I believe due to the poor procedural nature of the meeting.
Though overall councilors are behaving in a civil manner and debating openly with some concession to the counter points.
The fact that the journalists you refer to may or may not see eye to eye with me simply demonstrates the fact that I do not tell them how to report what they saw.
We may see things differently, though I think we gain more by listening to each others perspectives.
Rest assured we have published your counter point letter to the editor online and I thank you for adding your perspective on the meeting.
Thank you for reading, writing and taking such a keen interest in the community.
David Abrahams – Managing Editor