Serpentine Jarrahdale President Rob Coales adjourned this month’s council meeting in the middle of his speech on request that the public gallery show some respect.
“If members of the public find it funny, if members of the public decide to talk among themselves, the door is to your left,” Mr Coales said.
“Please show some respect.
“You may not agree with what I say, you may not agree with my debate but please show some respect to the people that are here.”
Mr Coales was closing the debate for motion 10.1 on the purchase of challenge coins when laughter first erupted from the gallery.
“(A challenge coin) is a door-opener; it is a conversation starter,” Mr Coales said.
“It won’t physically fix a road but it might actually assist to get the right people talking about the shire.”
Mr Coales stopped, turned to someone in the gallery and asked if there was something funny.
“Yeah, I think what you’re saying is funny,” the person in the gallery replied.
Under motion 10.1, a challenge coin was a physical and symbolic token of civic contribution and community impact.
“Challenge coins may be issued at the discretion of the shire President to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional service or achieved a significant milestone that has positively contributed to the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale community,” the shire said.
South Ward councillor Matthew Scott said the coin had value for being an appreciative gesture.
“Having seen these coins being awarded to community members from time to time, I understand it’s an appreciative gesture and to that end, I find it has value,” he said.
“However, to the transparency concerns, I believe the inclusion of point four should go some way to reassuring the community that these challenge coins will only be issued in appropriate circumstances and in an accountable way.”
Councillors Kim Glisenti and Joel Chan spoke against the motion.
Cr Glisenti said ratepayers would prefer to have their money spent on fixing deteriorating roads.
“I’m under the belief there are still 25 challenge coins left and in my view, there is absolutely no justification in spending more ratepayers’ money to buy another 100 when the existing stock is yet to be exhausted,” he said.
“More importantly, we need to remember the reality our community is living in right now.
“Our roads are deteriorating to the point where ratepayers are more likely to get a flat tyre in a pothole on their way to receive their coin than they are to actually enjoy the recognition it’s meant to represent.”
Cr Joel Chan said the motion was unstrategic, self-indulgent and a non-essential spend.
“This creates a mechanism that can be prone to favouritism, inconsistency and lack of transparency because how do you know who is deemed of exceptional service or significant milestone?” he said.
“Also, in my opinion, it does not align with the Local Government Act and the principle of collective authority.
“The purchase of this challenge coin represents a non-essential, in my opinion, unstrategic expenditure that sets poor financial precedence.
“The simple formal letter of certification… issued by the council carries more significant weight, requires minimal cost and maintains the integrity of the collective council recognition.”
The motion was carried 4-3.
