Council accused of burying community concerns
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A group of Hepburn Shire residents staged a protest at last night's council meeting, saying their concerns are not being listened to.
A coffin was wheeled into the council chamber painted with the words 'The Mayor's Coffin of Community Concerns'.
The residents want Mayor Tim Hayes to release documents showing the result of a bullying investigation into councillor Bill McClenaghan.
The bullying allegations were made by the former chief executive officer, Victor Szwed, last year.
Protester John Madigan says locals are sick of the council refusing to talk about the issue.
"The coffin represents community concerns that continually seem to get buried at council meetings when questions are asked of issues which are of concern to the community, there's no comment," he said.
Cr Hayes says he and other councillors are bound to silence on the bullying investigation.
"I've signed an agreement, every councillor has signed an agreement and if I put my signature to a document, that's as good as my word," he said.
"And my word given was that I wouldn't make any comment and it's totally inappropriate for me to do so."
