Local Government
DEAR BILL: Brimbank’s boss costs a fortune
Brimbank’s one-man ruler Bill Scales does not come cheaply. Its previous mayor might have cost around $60,000 but the state government’s Brimbank Administrator, cosily appointed after it adopted Scales’ own report insisted the council be sacked, has been charging up to $2000 a day and is now pulling $4000 per week, according to shocking revelations in today’s Sunday Herald Sun.
Scales worked practically full-time “monitoring” the Brimbank council since being appointed by his mate Local Government Minister Richard Wynne, pulling in at least $50,000 for four months “dirt digging.”
Bill Scales will be living it up compared with the people he’ll be lording it over. According to the most recent census, the average weekly gross income in Brimbank is around $358 per week.
Nice work if you can get it for the eastern suburbs resident with no connection to the Brimbank community, in Melbourne’s western suburbs.
And Bill Scales certainly gets it. He understood well that by writing the report into Brimbank in the most scathing terms that he was “on a good thing” in terms of getting future appointments.
Sources close to the Local Government Minister Richard Wynne say the minister’s “first preference” is to make Scales one of the three commissioners to undemocratically rule Brimbank for the next three years.
Those same sources though expressed grave concern that Scales would be able “to hack” the rigorous demands of the post:
“The bloke’s basically a retired bureaucrat and has not been in the best of health. Wynne wants him. But whether ‘Scaly Bill’ wants Brimbank is another issue. The government wants to be seen to be getting tough on local government, even if they’re Labor people involved, Scales is tough but he is also getting on in years. So it will be interesting to see how long he lasts.”
A local source explained to VEXNEWS that Scales is a very nasty piece of work indeed, and suspected that would eventually be exposed to a disgusted public. They explained a sorry tale where one of the councillors was contemplating his resignation – for reasons unrelated to the Brimbank inquiry – but was dissuaded from submitting it by Scales. What Scales kept quiet is that he was going to recommend the “suspension” or sacking of the entire council and wanted to be able to get as many scalps as possible.
“A dog act,” observed another local critic when he heard of Scales’ deception.
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14 comments for “DEAR BILL: Brimbank’s boss costs a fortune”
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The Whole Government should be sacked and Administrators brought in to run the State too…..That should fix all these political fights outright!!!!
Still costs less than the 11 sacked O’Connor & Sietz stooges
Who will he sack next ?
Where’s Maria Kiselis ? She might still turn up to Council.
Poor old Pudgy Stuey Miller and Dopey Robbie Shamon…the so called new blood…you let down your residents because you had no flipping clue
At least Kathryn Eriksson stood up for Keilor. A true local who cared for people. We miss you Kazza and the old Doc. Just like the Kelly Gang…yee shall ride again.
Bring back Charlie Apap, Ciro Lombardi, Dotty Costa and Sam David…the original fab four…although if you put a hat on Ciro they would be closer to the Seekers…Ciro are you still there baby ? You and that mayoress of yours were a deadly duo.
Allo Georgie…will I get my deposit back now…
Does this mean I can run again ? I promise to clean my nails…well all except one, for nasal reasons.
Arrivaderci Margarita. Time to go back and make your salamis.
Hi Margy…Are you organising any more functions for us ?
Troy will you bring back that shiraz, it’s council property. But by all means keep the mints…phew…
Some of those scalps were innocent, which is why there was an “unworkable” council that couldn’t move forward. Some of those scalps copped a heavy blow for years of entrenched mismanagement and dysfunction , and agendas that perpetrated and were carried through to a faction that behaved in an autonomous and indulgent manner in this current council. Some of those scalps also payed a heavy price, namely frustration at trying to push good things through and faced a wall of criticism and outright isolation. Is this Democratic process in the West Mr Wynne?? or is it wholesale removal of Democracy & some good people and good work in a foul swoop..those names must and will be cleared and the Good work will carry on in the West. As for the predecessors i hope Bill Scales and the Commissioners have some teeth , the years of systematic abuse and mismanagement have yet to be dealt with , many feeling relief it wasn’t them and it was others that shouldered the public humiliation and contempt of the public at large that Brimbank has finally been “dealt” with. I will be watching closely as now the Govt. has figuratively “stepped in” to clean the place up , and that it deals with the full force those that abused their positions from top to bottom.
I quote from your article:-
“The government wants to be seen to be getting tough on local government, even if they’re Labor people involved. . . . .”
Oh, really? REALLY? Well, let me offer one Council up for the good Minister Wynne to consider “Brimbanking” (a new term coined to reflect the sacking – justifiably I might add – of a Council and the appointment of administrator/s).
Try a Central Victorian Council, headquartered in a town half way between Bendigo and Ballarat, Maryborough. Since the return of an elected Council in 1997, rates have increased by over 100% in a time when CPI has increased 38%, debt has gone from a surplus of A$250,000 (cash at the bank!) to accumulated deficit/debt of over A$7 million, the staff numbers have increased from 120 to over 190, and the CEO’s salary package has gone from ~A$90k, to over A$210k. At the same time, waste collection services have dropped to half frequency, road maintenance has been cut almost in half, planning applications take twice as long as ever, and general efficiency has slumped, both indoors and outdoors.
There you go Minister! If you REALLY want “to be seen to be getting tough on local government”, then get stuck into THIS lot. Have a go at THAT one!
Oh! And, Minister, if you look closely enough, you’ll find former Commissioners in the district who are MORE than capable of doing the job. Give one of them three years, and the job will be certainly fixed!
Cheers,
Observer.