WEBVTT

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Good evening and welcome to the City of

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Stonnington's special council meeting of

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Tuesday the 9th of December 2025.

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I'm council Melina Sehr I'm the Mayor of

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the City of Stonnington.

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Tonight's special meeting has been

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called in accordance with chapter 2 rule

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11 of council's governance rules to

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consider notice of motion number four

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2025 Menorah installation at Malvern Town

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Hall. This is the only item of business

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on tonight's agenda.

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Firstly, I'll begin by the reading of

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the reconciliation statement.

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We acknowledge we're meeting on the

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traditional lands of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung

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and Bunurong Peoples of the East Kulin

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Nations and pay our respects to their

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Elders past and present. We extend that

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respect to all Aboriginal and

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Torres Strait Islander peoples. We

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acknowledge their living connection to

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country, relationship with the land, and

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all living things extending back tens of

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thousands of years. And now to our

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statement of commitment.

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We're reminded that as councilors, we

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are bound by our oath of office to

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undertake the duties of councelor in the

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best interests of the people of the City

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of Stonnington and to faithfully and

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impartially carry out the functions,

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powers, authorities, and discretions

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vested in us under the local government

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act and any other relevant act.

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Before I introduce the councilors this

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evening, I'd like to take this

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opportunity to remind our attendees of

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the behavioral expectations at council

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meetings. Although there will not be an

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opportunity for members of the public to

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address the council at tonight's

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meeting,

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councilors appreciate the feedback

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provided by the community in recent

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weeks on this matter and want to assure

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the community that this has been

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received and reviewed by councilors.

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Members of the public must extend that

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due courtesy

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and respect to the council and the

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processes under which it operates.

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A member of the public in attendance at

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a council meeting must not disrupt the

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meeting.

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Any member of the public who disrupts

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the meeting or fails to comply with the

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direction that I have issued may be

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removed from the council meeting.

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Councilors, I request that you please

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remain in your seats for the duration of

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the meeting and while the gallery exits

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the chamber after the meeting. I'll now

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introduce my councils around the table.

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To my left from Toorak Ward is councelor

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Tom Humphries.

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From Orrong Ward, our Deputy Mayor,

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councelor Samantha Choudhury. From 

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Wattletree Ward, councelor Steve

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StefaStefanopoulos and from Tooronga ward

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counselor Jamie Bell from Hedgley Dean

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Ward Councelor Sally Davis from Malvern

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Valley Ward Councelor Jami Klisaris

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from Kooyong Ward councelor Meghan Hopper and

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from South Ward Councelor Kate Hely

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there are no apologies this evening

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councilors as a just as a matter of

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process is a disclosure of any conflicts

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of interest to tonight's agenda I didn't

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think so we now move to the items of

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business in tonight's meeting and we

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move to the notice a motion in relation

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to the Manura installation at Malvern

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Town Hall and I would like to move a

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motion  which  I'll ask to be put up

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on the screen.

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Happy to second Mayor

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thank you councelor Klisaris, please check.

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All right.

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So this motion

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approves the installation of a Menorah

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can see some smiling faces in the

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gallery on the Stonnington City center

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balcony at 311 Glenferrie Road Malvern for

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the duration of Hanukah.

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This approval is for this year only

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while council develops its civic

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recognition policy as per 2. It notes

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that council will address recognition of

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cultural festivals and related matters

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as part of the development of a civic

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recognition policy in the first half of

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2026.

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This ensures that cultural celebrations

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with our community can going forward be

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considered equally, consistently, and

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through an endorsed, fair, and

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transparent process.

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This approves the proposed Hanukah

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carnival incorporating a ceremonial

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candle lighting to be held on the 16th

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of December 2025 at Malvern Gardens

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subject to to all administrative

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requirements being satisfied which

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ensures that the organizers now have

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adequate time to make the necessary

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arrangements.

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In addition, this motion reflects an

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important update from the one presented

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at last week's council meeting following

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appropriate risk and safety assessments

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undertaken by council officers. The

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installation location has been revised

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from Malvern Town Hall to the safer and

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more suitable Stonnington City Center

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balcony across the road. This ensures

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the Menorah is placed in a position

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that's prominent,

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is respectful, and most importantly is a

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safe location.

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These amendments in the motion before

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you reflect careful officer advice as a

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result of adequate time for assessment

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and a balanced approach to recognizing

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cultural celebrations within our

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community.

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Like we currently do for the many

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diverse groups in our City while we work

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towards a comprehensive civic

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recognition policy for future years.

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Council has had a long and proud history

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of supporting cultural and religious

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celebrations across Stonnington. This

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includes community events and

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acknowledgements connected to Christmas,

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Diwali, Hanukkah, Ramadan, Orthodox

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traditions, Christian and Buddhist

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observances, Baja holy days, and a wide

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variety of Jewish and Chinese cultural

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celebrations.

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Stonnington very proudly is home to

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people of many ancestors, languages, and

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faiths. And council's role is to foster

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an environment where everybody feels

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welcome, respected, and supported to

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celebrate their cultural identity. I now

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want to speak briefly to the reasons why

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the matter was deferred at our last

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meeting. The simple truth is all

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councilors collectively had not been

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afforded the opportunity to fully

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discuss the proposal, ask questions, or

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receive council officer advice. And as

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Mayor, I'm required to ensure that all

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counselors have equal access to

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information and that decisions are made

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transparency, transparently, lawfully,

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and with integrity. Without that

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opportunity, good governance is

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compromised. So, this deferral allowed

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officers the time they needed to

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undertake proper risk and safety

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assessments, to confirm a more

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appropriate installation location, and

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provide councils with adequate briefing

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material.

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This process strengthened, not hindered,

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the outcome before us tonight. I also

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gave a clear commitment last week that

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should more time be required, I would

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call a special meeting to ensure the

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matter could be considered in time for

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Hanukkah, and I've honored that

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commitment this evening.

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Much commentary has circulated since the

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deferral, including some criticism based

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on misinformation.

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There were even some racist allegations

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directed at myself and some of my fellow

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 counselors. Allegations that were

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not only incorrect but were deeply

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disappointing and hurtful.

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Let me be very clear. I used my casting

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vote to defer the motion because it was

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my duty as Mayor. Nothing more, nothing

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less. Under the council code of conduct,

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councilors must diligently use council

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processes to become informed about

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matters subject to decisions. Treat

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others with dignity, fairness,

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objectivity, and respect. Comply with

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governance rules that ensure proper

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decision making, act with integrity, and

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avoid any action that diminishes public

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trust. And good governance does not

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occur when councils are denied adequate

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time, information, or officer advice.

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Nor does it occur when decisions are

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rushed without addressing risk, safety,

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or equity. My decision to defer was not

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political, not personal, and certainly

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not discriminatory. It was simply the

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lawful, responsible, and correct action

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required under the Victorian Local

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Government Act and the Council of Code

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of Conduct. As we consider this motion

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of extension, please move.

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Thank you.

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Oh, thank you. Sorry. Y as I'll be

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finishing up. As we consider this

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motion, it's worth reflecting on the

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symbolism of the Menorah.

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The Menorah represents hope, resilience,

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light overcoming darkness, and the

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enduring strength of the human spirit.

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It's a reminder that even when

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circumstances are difficult, we can

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choose illumination over division,

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respect over hostil, hostility, and

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understanding over fear. These values,

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dignity, kindness, and integrity are not

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just symbolic. They're behavioral

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expectations of us as counselors.

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They're the standards our community

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deserves.

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and they're the principles that should

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guide all our interactions both inside

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and outside this chamber.

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Installing the Menorah this year honors

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these values, acknowledges an important

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celebration of our community, and

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reinforces our commitment to fairness

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and inclusivity.

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Tonight's motion reflects proper

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process, equal access to information,

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officer advice, safety considerations,

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and respect for cultural recognition.

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It's the correct process at the correct

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time following the the correct

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governance steps. And I commend the

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motion to you and I thank everyone who

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engaged constructively in this process.

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Thank you. As the second council Stephan

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Stefanopoulos, would you like to speak to the

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motion I've just moved?

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Thank you. Let me start off by saying

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that that good governance as you said

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and decision-making practices rely upon well

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informed being well informed. But the

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hateful emails, texts, and voice

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messages I and other councils have

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received over the last week have been

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distressing and unwarranted. I cannot

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believe that I have to say the

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following, but I will. Let me start off

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by saying that I have many Jewish

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friends and that I have no religious

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bias. I was baptized Greek Orthodox. I

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was educated by many Catholic nuns and

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brothers in Catholic schools for my

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primary secondary education. I'm on

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firstname bases and friends with many

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such religious people and clergy

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including the vicers and ministers and

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rabbis of local  Protestant and

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Catholic and Orthodox churches across

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Dington and as recently and the recently

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retired Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne

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who's a very good friend of mine. I have

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worked for and continue to work for many

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religious organizations and I have

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provided professional advice to a broad

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range of religious organizations

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including colleagues in my Jewish

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schools.

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This most recent affront to my open and

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unbiased mindset brought up a memory of

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my mother working in the clothing

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industry alongside many Holocaust

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survivors. I as a child during the

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school holidays my mother would bring me

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into the clothing factories in Pan where

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she worked as she didn't have anyone to

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babysit me. I have a vivid memory of

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innocently asking an elderly lady. She

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probably wasn't that old but for a

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10-year-old boy she was probably

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ancient. She was sitting at a sewing

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machine plowing fabric through noisy

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sewing machines with those numbers and

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letters that were plastered on the

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inside of her arm.

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She then proceeded. I asked her what

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they were. She then proceeded to tell me

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that these were inflicted upon her by

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the Nazis in Germany. She went on to say

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that she was the only survivor in her

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family. My mother too told me through

00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:40.296
welled up eyes about other female Jewish

00:11:40.320 --> 00:11:41.416
colleagues she had been working

00:11:41.440 --> 00:11:43.736
alongside in these factories and their

00:11:43.760 --> 00:11:45.495
stories of survival and escape to

00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:48.216
Australia for a better life. So don't

00:11:48.240 --> 00:11:51.240
tell me that I'm anti-semitic. I find

00:11:51.600 --> 00:11:53.656
such an accusation unfounded and

00:11:53.680 --> 00:11:56.616
insulting. As for the minora, I openly

00:11:56.640 --> 00:11:58.536
stated last week's council meeting that

00:11:58.560 --> 00:12:01.096
I support the erection of a Menorah. I

00:12:01.120 --> 00:12:02.856
was very supportive of the idea when I

00:12:02.880 --> 00:12:05.016
was Mayor some five or so years ago and

00:12:05.040 --> 00:12:06.696
ever since then I've been very friend

00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:08.136
I've had a very friendly relationship

00:12:08.160 --> 00:12:10.536
with the rabbis where we would wave to

00:12:10.560 --> 00:12:12.615
one another and wish each other a good

00:12:12.639 --> 00:12:15.336
morning or afternoon as we passed by one

00:12:15.360 --> 00:12:16.696
another on our walks in the

00:12:16.720 --> 00:12:18.536
neighborhood. So as far as I'm

00:12:18.560 --> 00:12:20.696
concerned, that salutation between

00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:23.495
people is a testament of unbiased

00:12:23.519 --> 00:12:25.815
community spirit.

00:12:25.839 --> 00:12:27.576
It was in May this year where council

00:12:27.600 --> 00:12:29.976
Humphre reignited the idea of a Menorah

00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:32.375
with me. He and I met the rabbis from

00:12:32.399 --> 00:12:35.096
the Malvern Shul whereby I expressed my

00:12:35.120 --> 00:12:36.935
opinion at the Menorah be erected in

00:12:36.959 --> 00:12:38.615
Malvern Square, not in front of the

00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:40.935
Malvern Town Hall which is adorned by a

00:12:40.959 --> 00:12:43.416
Christmas wreath and banners. Further

00:12:43.440 --> 00:12:45.176
conversations ensured between the four

00:12:45.200 --> 00:12:46.856
of us and then councelor Humphre and I

00:12:46.880 --> 00:12:48.536
agreed that we would be one that he

00:12:48.560 --> 00:12:49.815
would be the one to follow through with

00:12:49.839 --> 00:12:52.456
this idea. Why it took councelor Humphre

00:12:52.480 --> 00:12:54.296
over 6 months to bring the idea to a

00:12:54.320 --> 00:12:55.896
council meeting and not a council

00:12:55.920 --> 00:12:58.456
briefing is a mystery to me. The only

00:12:58.480 --> 00:13:00.456
reason I sought a deferral to the motion

00:13:00.480 --> 00:13:02.935
was to ensure that all councils like as

00:13:02.959 --> 00:13:05.255
you said Mayor could be briefed on the

00:13:05.279 --> 00:13:07.896
matter by council staff. Councilors had

00:13:07.920 --> 00:13:09.416
not been briefed on the matter prior to

00:13:09.440 --> 00:13:10.776
the meeting, which is a standing

00:13:10.800 --> 00:13:12.935
practice for all items listed on the

00:13:12.959 --> 00:13:15.959
council agenda. And the and the

00:13:16.560 --> 00:13:17.896
information we have been provided

00:13:17.920 --> 00:13:19.736
tonight allows us all to make an

00:13:19.760 --> 00:13:22.296
informed decision. At least now we all

00:13:22.320 --> 00:13:23.976
know what is involved and how we can

00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:25.896
reflect the views of our community with

00:13:25.920 --> 00:13:28.776
a sense of pride and respect to all. And

00:13:28.800 --> 00:13:31.016
it is for this reason that I support

00:13:31.040 --> 00:13:33.176
this motion.

00:13:33.200 --> 00:13:34.536
Council Pasar.

00:13:34.560 --> 00:13:35.815
Madam May, I'd like to move a motion

00:13:35.839 --> 00:13:38.055
that we put the matter straight to a

00:13:38.079 --> 00:13:38.935
vote.

00:13:38.959 --> 00:13:41.416
Seconded.

00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:44.440
Okay. Proced. So you're gagging.

00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:47.815
 what's the point of order coun what's

00:13:47.839 --> 00:13:49.016
the point of gagging?

00:13:49.040 --> 00:13:50.935
No. Procedural motion's been put. I need

00:13:50.959 --> 00:13:52.696
to know. Hang on. I need to deal with

00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:54.296
one point of order at a time. Thank you.

00:13:54.320 --> 00:13:55.815
Council, please. Councelor Davis, what's

00:13:55.839 --> 00:13:56.536
the point of order?

00:13:56.560 --> 00:13:57.416
I'll just explain.

00:13:57.440 --> 00:14:00.440
Well, under the under the um your right.

00:14:01.120 --> 00:14:01.416
Yes.

00:14:01.440 --> 00:14:03.416
No, no, no. Councelor Davis, you raised

00:14:03.440 --> 00:14:05.096
a point of order. You've got what are

00:14:05.120 --> 00:14:06.696
the there's valid points of order. Can

00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:09.336
you please refer to which section of the

00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:11.096
governance rules that you're referring

00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:12.615
to? There's a list of which point of

00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:15.639
order.

00:14:17.680 --> 00:14:20.680
I can see there's the list.

00:14:32.160 --> 00:14:34.136
Um,

00:14:34.160 --> 00:14:35.976
it's a moot point. I'm not going to

00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:37.656
force the issue, but I will say how

00:14:37.680 --> 00:14:39.576
sorry I am that we will not be able to

00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:41.815
respond to this argument.

00:14:41.839 --> 00:14:44.839
That's not a point of order. Sorry.

00:14:44.959 --> 00:14:47.959
I order

00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:51.336
under 5517.

00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:53.976
 to Sally Davis's point, I think it's

00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:55.576
offensive that the rest of the

00:14:55.600 --> 00:14:58.296
counselors can't put a a story forward.

00:14:58.320 --> 00:15:00.216
It's not a valid point of order. I don't

00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:01.896
I don't accept that as a point of order.

00:15:01.920 --> 00:15:02.696
Point of order.

00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:04.136
Thank you. Yes.

00:15:04.160 --> 00:15:05.815
The point of order is I'm not sure where

00:15:05.839 --> 00:15:07.656
it fits under the rules here, but it's

00:15:07.680 --> 00:15:10.136
generally known as respect, ma'am. For

00:15:10.160 --> 00:15:10.615
the people,

00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:11.815
you'll need to refer to the governor's

00:15:11.839 --> 00:15:14.839
resper

00:15:14.959 --> 00:15:16.375
last week, and now we don't have a

00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:18.536
chance to respond to this. I find that

00:15:18.560 --> 00:15:20.856
completely unacceptable.

00:15:20.880 --> 00:15:22.696
I've never known a situation like this

00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:23.576
to exist. Not

00:15:23.600 --> 00:15:26.296
a bad.

00:15:26.320 --> 00:15:27.815
So, thank you. It doesn't allow for

00:15:27.839 --> 00:15:30.615
debate. Thank you, councelor Plarus. 

00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:32.216
yeah. So, if you are you raising a point

00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:34.296
of order or not? You'll need to refer to

00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:37.320
the section under the act. So, then then

00:15:37.440 --> 00:15:39.255
there is no point of order. Councelor

00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:39.976
Hilly,

00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:41.976
thank you. Um the point of order under

00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:44.216
rule 551.3

00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:46.296
or the code of conduct that we're

00:15:46.320 --> 00:15:47.815
failing to treat others with dignity,

00:15:47.839 --> 00:15:50.615
fairness, and respect. argue that in

00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:52.375
stopping the ability for councils who

00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:54.856
have prepared notes to talk tonight from

00:15:54.880 --> 00:15:56.696
being able to talk is not showing

00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:58.615
fairness respect to your fellow

00:15:58.639 --> 00:16:01.639
counselors. So I don't agree with that

00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:03.896
as a point of order to councelor Hilly.

00:16:03.920 --> 00:16:06.136
It's a question of you can put up a

00:16:06.160 --> 00:16:07.416
procedural motion that's what's been

00:16:07.440 --> 00:16:08.375
forwarded. It's allowed in the

00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:09.976
governance rules. It's been moved. It's

00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:12.055
been seconded. There's no opportunity

00:16:12.079 --> 00:16:14.296
for debate. Are you raising a point of

00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:14.696
order?

00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:17.720
Point of order under 5518. Um

00:16:17.839 --> 00:16:19.416
we're just going through the list. as an

00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:21.336
act of disorder. This is quite frankly a

00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:23.255
kangaroo court. Like you're not allowing

00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:25.016
the rest of the counselors to have mad

00:16:25.040 --> 00:16:26.856
point of order. It's not debate

00:16:26.880 --> 00:16:29.255
procedure motion

00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:31.495
opportunity to debate.

00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:33.175
It's not an act of disorder. It's a

00:16:33.199 --> 00:16:35.016
genuine process under the governance

00:16:35.040 --> 00:16:36.536
rules. Can we please sit down that point

00:16:36.560 --> 00:16:36.935
of order?

00:16:36.959 --> 00:16:38.456
We were following the governance rules

00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:41.016
last week with the notice of motion.

00:16:41.040 --> 00:16:41.416
Sorry.

00:16:41.440 --> 00:16:43.495
We were following last week with the

00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:44.216
notice of motion.

00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:46.856
Council Bell and Are you raising a point

00:16:46.880 --> 00:16:48.696
of order? If you are, I need to know

00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:50.055
which section of the governance rules

00:16:50.079 --> 00:16:53.079
you're paying raising point of order.

00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:58.136
So yeah, the motion we have a move that

00:16:58.160 --> 00:17:00.935
the the motion be put seconded by

00:17:00.959 --> 00:17:03.255
councelor Hopper. All those in favor of

00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:04.856
the motion to be put and voted, which

00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:07.015
means the motion will be voted on as on

00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:08.456
print on screen for those in the gallery

00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:10.055
and those shelled in. All those in

00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:12.535
favor?

00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:14.616
All those against.

00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:17.015
All those in favor. So councelor there.

00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:18.696
Councelor Davis, Councelor Pasarus,

00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:19.895
Councelor Hopper, Councelor

00:17:19.919 --> 00:17:21.415
StefaStefanopoulos, Councelor Chadley,

00:17:21.439 --> 00:17:23.175
Councelor Humphre. All those against,

00:17:23.199 --> 00:17:25.415
Councelor Hilly, and Councelor Bell. The

00:17:25.439 --> 00:17:27.736
motion um for the motion to be put is

00:17:27.760 --> 00:17:29.736
carried. So now the motion will be put.

00:17:29.760 --> 00:17:31.176
All those in favor with the motion

00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:33.655
that's up on the screen, and that motion

00:17:33.679 --> 00:17:35.416
is carried unanimously. Thank you,

00:17:35.440 --> 00:17:38.440
councilors. Councilors, we now move to

00:17:39.520 --> 00:17:41.496
the Having dealt with the only item of

00:17:41.520 --> 00:17:43.096
business this evening, I now formally

00:17:43.120 --> 00:17:45.256
declare this council meeting closed at

00:17:45.280 --> 00:17:46.936
6:19

00:17:46.960 --> 00:17:49.895
p.m. Councilors, I remind you to please

00:17:49.919 --> 00:17:51.655
remain seated while the gallery exits

00:17:51.679 --> 00:17:53.096
the chamber to ensure that it's

00:17:53.120 --> 00:17:56.120
conducted safely. And that's going to