The Shire of Capel council will consider a number of motions regarding defamation cases following last week’s Special Meeting of Electors.
More than 100 community members attended the meeting following a request by electors, seeking the return of monies paid by the council for legal advice and the issue of notices of concern.
Shire of Capel chief executive Ian McCabe said a number of questions were asked and four motions were put to a vote.
This followed the council’s June vote to support former chief executive Paul Sheedy and president Murray Scott in authorising the payment of up to $6,000 to a legal advisor for the issue of concerns notices alleging defamatory statements made on Facebook.
“A motion expressing no confidence in the President was defeated but three motions seeking a change on policy, the limiting of expenditure on the defamation matter and a revoking of the June decision to support the issue of concerns notices were all passed,” Mr McCabe said.
Petition and meeting organiser Cindy Lovett said overall it was a positive outcome despite the motion of no confidence not being passed.
“Now we’re waiting for the meeting to see what will happen,” she said.
“We’re hoping that Mr Sheedy and Mr Scott are forced to pay back the money they used for their legal action.
“I hate to imagine what the community reaction will be if they don’t pass the motion.”
Council will consider the motions at its next meeting on September 26.
