QUO VADIS............(Where do you go? York Voters)

We should all try to remember that the days of electing your next-door neighbour, the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker to a local Shire Council disappeared in the early 21st Century, particularly in the politicized, but politically ill-nurtured and ignored Wheatbelt Region.

A number of State Government decisions on autonomy in the past two decades mean that, these days, potential councillors should bring acuity to the table, accountancy and business skills, legal advocacy, academic discipline, exemplary communication skills, probity and more-- because nobody else will. (They are directions that some Senior Public Servants in the current Shire of York Administration may be unable to spell, let alone perform, mainly because of their lack of professional qualifications.)  

The Shire of York is a $9 million per- annum, virtually guaranteed income business, if it collects the rates. So its new council must be a Board of Socio-Economic Business Directors, not a septic septet of dysfunctional, narcissistic homies as it has been at times- in the past- and when a sextet.

York is by far the worst performing historic inland town of its type in Australia, particularly in the promotion of its unique cultural entity to tourists. If you think this is not correct, do yourself a favour, get off your butt, venture forth and visit similar towns such as Daylesford, Richmond and Hahndorf-then answer the question.

The new council must have the ability to perform all the required functions on its own, without the support of any Government Department or agency in the rejuvenation of York’s tourism industry in particular.

The Minister for Tourism, (and Health), Kim Hames, ( who is not related to the Hames of the notorious Hames Sharley) is like the little Dutch boy with his finger in the dyke, trying to stave off a healthcare catastrophe. Currently Premier, Colin Barnett, appears to be the spokesman taking centre stage in announcing major new WA tourism initiatives.

The Tourism WA marketing guru, Stephanie Buckland, has just come up with an incredibly innovative, cutting edge, tourism marketing cook-up coup- a major, Western Australian, wine and food promotion over the next four years.

A sort of  ‘Master Chef’ at Margaret River and a ‘My Kitchen Rules’ on Rottnest. A unique promotional tribute to the marvels of quality mastication and quintessential quaffing that could easily be master-classed as passé and deja-vu. How many actual tourists it will entice is anybody’s guess.

The newspeak ‘visioning’ and ‘ideation’ have certainly inserted themselves into the psyche of government funded agencies, taking over from good old fashioned  innovation and lateral thinking.

One of Ms. Buckland's newspeak, quotable, catch-phrases is the very old ‘paddock to plate’. This dates back to the European Agrarian Revolution of 200 years ago. One, that is a bit closer to our time, the ‘Slow Food Convivium’, founded in Italy in 1986, does not get a mention.

York was the Swan River Colony’s, historic ‘paddock to plate’ saviour and could easily become a renowned, Australian, niche Slow Food Convivium, but will not get a mention because it is neither the Metropolitan Area or the South-West Wine Region where most of Tourism WA’s promotion and marketing dollar goes. (This qualified spending on easily promoted regions is just your basic, comfortable, no-risk, often ‘El Cheapo’ Tourism WA visioning and ideation, not rocket science.)

Mr. Barnett said recently that ‘the Federal Government has got it wrong in marketing regions rather than specific destinations. Mr. Barnett should have checked first with Ms. Buckland. York, Northam and Toodyay, rural towns in the Avon Valley/ Wheatbelt region, as well as Lancelin and New Norcia are all lumped together as part of Tourism WA’s ‘Experience Perth’, arguably a specific destination.

So, in theory at least, a Region can actually be a Specific Destination according to Tourism WA. And the most ‘El Cheapo’ way of spending some limited tourism promotion that will be like getting blood from a stone be regions?, or specific destinations?.

Try specific destinations, and York will not be one of them. And, with hindsight, being part of Experience Perth has not done York any favours.

Earlier this year a letter was sent to the Deputy Premier of Western Australia, Minister for Health; Tourism, the Hon. Kim Hames. It reiterated York’s historic town tourism potential and its need for resurrection as a unique tourism destination.

The answer was ‘I agree that York’s historic past should be a catalyst for a brighter future, however , any proposals to reinvigorate tourism within the town must be driven by the town itself if any initiatives, whether privately or publically funded, are to have a sustainable impact.

Mr. Hames was made fully aware of the damage done to the tourist industry in York, by the Shire of York and its administration, but as expected chose to make it the peoples problem, not a political, government agency mal-administration one. 

So York’s tourism renaissance will only occur if York elects an astute, academically qualified, highly committed council. These candidates are there for you to chose.

Or you can take a punt and wait until just before the State Election, March 11, 2017, when the Local Member, Mia Who, may rock up to try and cadge a few votes by doing something. Then again- maybe not, she is the current Minister for Water, Sport and Recreation, Forestry & Allusion.

One thing that does stand out as October 17, 2015 draws near is some of the personalized comments made on one of York’s online blogs. It shows up a ‘kinda embarrassing, Hillbilly culture, lacking in cognitive thought processes. “Sorta like the ‘My Ma, is my Pa’s sister’, so I’m the Village Idiot’
syndrome and makes you wonder why anyone would wish to represent these ‘anonymice’ for any reason.

DAVID TAYLOR
YORK RATEPAYER.

NEW BLOOD......EDITORIAL OPINION COLUMN

In hundreds of brightly lit newsrooms around the world, senior journalists sit down to write the daily EDITORIAL OPINION COLUMN.

It is usually published with anonymity of authorship, and is neither absolute fact nor pure fiction. It often reflects the newspaper Editors’ and sometimes its Board of Directors’ parsimonious stance on what they conceive to be matters of public interest and importance.

‘The Shire of York Blog’ and ‘The Real Voice of York’ have broadcast numerous opinions, both anonymous and sourced. Unlike newspaper editorial opinion columns that may be clouded by corporate self-interest, they have reflected diverse public opinion on serious issues that directly affect the whole of a small local community.

Those with a great deal of self-interest have suggested these opinions are subversive and called the authors ‘extremists’ and ‘trouble-makers’. They have called on everyone to forget the past and look to the future.

Unfortunately, the only way to forget the past is to acknowledge it, rectify it- then move on. This is the ethos that these two on-line publications have attempted to promote, in both a humorous and serious, eclectic manner.

In his formal letter of resignation from Council, Matthew Reid, states, that neither the current Shire of York Administration and the Department of Local Government, adhere to the principles of open, accountable and transparent local government governance or intend to engage in community consultation and collaboration.

This means that the role of President of the Shire of York requires a massive devotion of time and energy, being a full-time commitment to ensure that the Shire of York Administration is directly and totally answerable to the Shire of York Council- post October 17, 2015.

There are two Shire of York Council candidates who, if elected, meet all the criteria needed to assume Mr Reid’s role, as President, through having the time, energy, and the ability to offer a fulltime commitment to encourage, indeed ensure a positive renaissance of York.

This is not a direct endorsement, but encouragement to allow York Ratepayers to pursue their democratic rights through selecting those who can best serve the community as its leaders. You should be able to locate these two people when you read their Candidate Profile.

ANNONYMOUS……( has been in the print media industry for 34 years, including 14 as a Senior Editorial Manager, 6 on a newspaper’s Editorial Board of Management, and  4 within the WA Government’s parliamentary system.)

A sad day for York as Shire President Matthew Reid resigns

Why are you leaving with the job unfinished?

I have carefully considered this question and obviously it is a matter of personal regret that I have not been able to complete what I started but as I have said it is simply not possible for me to devote the time and energy required.

We need you to stay – what can we do to persuade you to change your mind?

Thank you for your faith in me but my decision has not been taken lightly and is irrevocable

Did you make a mistake in taking up the role of President without previous experience?

Undoubtedly there will be those who make this judgement. 

Why couldn’t you bring about the changes you promised?

It is incumbent upon me at this point to leave the position without rancour or blame. It is my sincere hope that someone with more time, energy and wisdom will succeed in bringing about change and that person will have my full support.

Can you give us examples of when you were compelled to say things you did not agree with?

It is the nature of the role as President that from time to time this may happen. Normally this would not be an issue as the President is representing more than just his or her own view however these past months have been unusually difficult and so the circumstances have not been normal. I found the situation very difficult and at times felt compromised. In these circumstances it is another reason why I should resign. However I do not feel it is would be helpful to go into details at this point in time. 

TRY, TRY AGAIN

Bye bye $625,000.00

It could be an hours homework that may just end up with a positive result.

As of October 17, 2015, the new Shire of York Council must be given all information, from all sources, regarding any financial problems it faces in the foreseeable future.

The sale of the Old Convent School will not be reversed. The intention of this kind of letter is to try and ensure that the undemocratic processes and lack of fiscal accountability used in this purchase, by Commissioner James Best, do not occur again.

In the previous correspondence of August 31, 2015, the term WA Treasury was used to cover all bases as to where government money comes from. The Auditor General, Colin Murphy, is ultimately responsible for the proper use of State Government monies.

It is the WA Treasury Corporation that dispenses what is called ‘surplus State Government funds’, as loans, apparently at the lowest interest rate- being the RBA’s Cash Rate of 2 per cent.( I thank Anonymous who suggests the term of the loan is ten years.)

Unfortunately our credit- strapped, State Government, does not have surplus State Government funds as St. John ambulances’ ramp-up, Fiona Stanley Hospital goes into melt-down and it tries to flog-off the Fremantle Port facility.

Mr Colin Murphy’s job is to ensure that Royalties for Regions and other government monies are not used for financial faux pas.

Obviously the historic Old Convent School must be preserved at any cost. But this ‘any cost’
(and what it will be used for) is what the majority of the York population decides it should be. Certainly not a decision made by some single, non-representative, local government administration, political appointee.

Mr. Murphy should respond to this, he has in the past, but not with ambiguous political rhetoric! Our dispute is what constitutes State Government, monies, funds, loans etc., surplus or otherwise, what is officially considered as misuse and who should be held accountable for such.

As of October 17, 2015, if re-elected as Shire President, it should be Councillor Matthew Reid’s objective and responsibility to stir this kind of possum and try to ‘keep the bastards honest”-not mine and the many others who have made public statements referring to what they genuinely believe was, and is, in the best interest of York as a whole.

DAVID TAYLOR

Mr. Colin Murphy                                                                 Dated September 17, 2015
Auditor General for Western Australia
Office of the Auditor General
7^th Floor Albert Facey House
469 Wellington Street
PERTH WA 6000

Dear Mr. Murphy

RE: SALE OF THE YORK CONVENT TO THE SHIRE OF YORK COMMISSIONER 
MR. JAMES BEST and THE NEW SHIRE OF YORK COUNCIL OCTOBER 17, 2015.

On August 31, 2015, I wrote to you claiming that the purchase of the commercial property, Lots 800-801, South Street, being the historic Old Convent School building and surrounds, circa 1873, was facilitated by a loan issued by the WA Treasury (Corporation) (WATC) to Commissioner James Best, the Shire of York, at his (personal) request.

The borrowing was believed to be for the full amount of the inflated purchase price being $625,000, with the Principle & Interest repayment for the Financial Year, 2015-2016, set at $72,000.

As previously stated, in the absence of publically accessible financial data, I assumed the loan was for fifteen (15) years at a commercial interest rate of five (5) per cent with the total repayment being $1,080,000. This was based on current, standard commercial interest rates, over a reasonable term.

I have since been advised that the term of the loan is ten (10) years. Without knowing the terms and conditions of this loan, given the regular annual repayment (P & I) is allegedly $72,000, the total repayment could be $750,000 with $125,000 being the interest repayment component.

The current Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Cash Rate is two (2) per cent and is designed to positively influence the term structure of interest rates across the whole Australian economy, to stimulate the economy, in the best interest of the economy, not to promote government lending to local government agency borrowers using government (tax- payers’) money at some risk, without a clearly defined, productive result.

It would appear that the WATC has seen fit to provide ‘surplus State Government funds’ to Mr. Best, as the Shire of York, without commercial justification, any, known, economic rationale and local community expectations evaluation, at an interest rate comparable to the RBA’s Cash Rate and well below both home loan and, in particular, commercial interest rates.

The WATC’s mandate is the investment of State surplus funds which is ‘State Government monies’ and its use is under your jurisdiction and scrutiny. The WATC also avows to provide ‘sound financial risk management’ and ‘debt interest rate risk management’ which is a contradiction in terms when applied to the reasons for the loan issued to, Commissioner Best- that is under your jurisdiction.

Prior to the end of his contract, the Shire of York (James Best) was allowed to increase local shire property rates by thirteen-and-a-half (13.5) per cent for the Financial Year 2015-2016 in an attempt to, belatedly, provide future financial viability and sustainability to the Shire, while desperately trying to cover existing debt. (This may well the highest rate hike in the history of local government in this state.)

At the same time the WATC provided the additional, substantial financial debt burden to theYork ratepayer and the community at large to the tune of $625,000, plus interest, without enacting due diligence and financial duty-of-care, through the provision of a loan for the public purchase of a private, commercial property without a valid reason.

Although the interest rate payable may be low, the sound financial risk management and the debt interest rate risk management parameters attached to this loan, in comparison to the return in any community value expectations, are ill advised.

It should be once again noted that the whereabouts, content, relevance, reliability, quality and objective reason for any documents pertaining to a review of a York planning strategy, directly relating to the appropriate development of a village square, or town centre, incorporating the historic, Old Convent School building, is not known to (and approved by) the York ratepayer .

There has been no proper, appropriate and necessary community consultation regarding any Shire expenditure required to be invested in such a project- up to this point in time.

It is my opinion that, despite the historic significance of the property, the WATC has provided an unwarranted, excessive loan to be paid for by the ratepayers of York at the inappropriate, unsubstantiated request of Commissioner James Best. It has been delivered in a commercially irresponsible manner, with no proper probity assessment and justification as it being in the community of York interest.

As of October 17, 2015, the Shire of York will have a new council. This duly elected Council should take office armed with the knowledge of your assessment of the validity of the loan as Auditor General, and your intentions with regard to its future implementation. You are independent of the State Government and as such should deliver your adjudication to the current President, Matthew Reid, prior to the election date.

It is not the loan itself or the obvious historic, non- commercial, value of the property concerned- it is why it was borrowed?  why so much was borrowed? why it was lent and was the loan obtained under false pretences and through mal- administration?

This is what the new Shire of York council and the community of York deserves to know at your earliest convenience.

Yours sincerely

David Taylor.
Shire of York ratepayer

ET TU TREVOR.

It often astonishes people how some choose to ignore the past and refuse to recall the slings and arrows of outraged ratepayers.

Some may even suggest that someone has been standing too close to the chip fryer without the exhaust fan on, absorbing litres of vaporized cooking oil up the nostrils, to ill effect.
Yet-everyone deserves the chance to turn abject failure into, maybe, just simple failure.

Trevor Randell is standing for Council again and it is up to the voters to pick and choose, based on how long their memories are.

This election has no chance of being perceived as- or actually being tainted. The extreme Conflict of Interest when the Returning Officer was, Ray Hooper, lovingly collating the votes for the elected Councillors who were his adoring fans and future, euphemistic employer, is no more.

This one will be kosha Trevor!

I am sure Trevor understands that, if elected, the three stooges will not be with him in the Council Chambers, so he will have to be far more circumspect in what he says and does.

I am sure he realizes that this time his fellow councillors will be a quorum of highly intelligent professional people with the best interest of the community at heart, not driven by manic self-interest, enforced with abusive behaviour.

There should be a number of high profile women as his colleagues, who the instant he calls them “mad” could have him thrown out of Chambers with the door still closed, metaphorically speaking.

Trevor’s every community Twitter, Facebook entry and public or private statement will definitely be

checked for the slightest whiff of overt or covert misogyny.

Trevor’s affiliations and allegiances are of community concern. He will not become the mouthpiece for disgruntled former councillors, trying to foist their private agendas on council or trying to settle old scores. This will not be tolerated and constant Conflict of Interest surveillance will ensure he’s nobody’s mule.

If there are enough friends, relatives and supporters at the end of Trevor’s rainbow, then he will be elected.

Then he is going to have to be a Councillor who is open, accountable, treating the community with dignity and respect, encouraging community participation in the decision making process while acting with honesty, integrity and impartiality like every other elected member-Capiche?


DAVID TAYLOR 

Trev’s big day out with Grandpa

Candidate profiles:  http://www.york.wa.gov.au/elections-2013.aspx

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ORDINARY ELECTION 17 October 2015 - candidates

1. PAM HEATON

2. HEATHER SAINT

3. DENESE SMYTHE

4. TREVOR RANDELL 

5. R. FORSTER

6. JANE FERRO

7. PAT FLYN

8. JAMES PLUMRIDGE

9. TRICIA WALTERS.

THE R’A’Y TO ‘Z’ BOOK OF ANSWERS

(It is always good to have documented evidence that make others’ answers immaterial)

BACKGROUND: The so-called public exoneration from accusations in the Fitz Gerald Report has come from the Commissioner for York, James Best. The Department of Local Government has refused to investigate any allegations of impropriety prior to the resignation of CEO Ray Hooper in April 2014.The WA Corruption and Crime Commission is too busy investigating impropriety in its own ranks. So what has allegedly happened? The Shire of York investigated itself and decided it had no case to answer! Funny that, but it’s never over until the ‘fat lady sings’.
                                                        

                                                      
                                                     A ‘Q & A’ FOR RAY.

                  (Ray Hooper steps onto the stage to loud, local community applause.)

Mr. Ray Hooper, you have continued to protest your innocence of any wrongdoing as the Chief Executive Officer of the Shire of York and recently claimed, publically, that you had been exonerated by the authority with appropriate investigatory capacity and therefor appropriate jurisdiction, being the Shire of York.

You should therefore have no hesitation in answering questions that have intrigued the York community for years, on the understanding that your answers have been accepted as fact by the arbiter of exoneration, the Shire of York.

Q. Mr. Michael Fitz Gerald of Fitz Gerald Strategies arrived at the Shire of York Offices to commence his investigation on April 15, 2014. You tendered your resignation on the same day. As you have always claimed your innocence why did you resign on that day or any other day?

A.  I could not stand to be picked on by all those nasty people. Where were all my obsequious, servile friends when I needed them?

Q. Subsequently you stated publically that your Corporate Credit Card statements had been subject to audit. The auditors denied this had occurred and it was clearly stated that your credit card had never been reviewed or authorized by anyone prior to any payment being made.
Do you claim these auditors are liars?

A. I personally looked at them, so let us call that my self-auditing. Would you trust a real auditor with your silverware?

Q. It is alleged that two councillors on the Shire of York Audit Committee, responsible for ensuring the proper and appropriate use of Shire of York municipal funds, received goods and services that they should not be entitled to, paid for by your Corporate Credit Card.
Do you deny this?

A. I thought they were my unctuous friends. You scratch mine- I’ll scratch yours.

Q. It is alleged that what could be constituted as endemic and systemic impropriety within the Shire of York commenced sometime after 2004 and legitimate public concerns were raised regarding this in 2008.
Do you recall what these concerns were?

A. What concerns? I just kept a few secrets like how much I love to travel and how much my love  cost.

Q. It is alleged that, ignoring community expectations, you employed staff without the relevant qualifications, skills, knowledge and adequate experience to undertake important financial and senior management roles. This compromised safe and secure financial practices resulting in the theft of municipal funds from the York Tourist Bureau Inc.
What do you have to say to this?

A. Let us get one thing straight, I could be a nasty Bossy-Boots. In 2010 I used to send my managers memos such as you ‘have a lack of urgency and commitment to service delivery to the community’, you ‘lack action and implementation’, you have ‘no perceived interest in achieving results’ and ‘it may be time (for you) to consider other employment.

One of these guys had the temerity to say my behaviour was disrespectful to hard working staff, I was creating an atmosphere of fear and stress, was destroying staff morale and was undermining the stability of the organization.

That was when I got smart and put together my dream team of female senior managers, my “Ray’s Angels” with all the relevant qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience that I required.

Then when any ratepayer complained about anything-I plagiarized the living sh…t out of that former employee’s musings, telling those nasty people ‘their behaviour was disrespectful to hard working staff, they were creating an atmosphere of fear and stress, were destroying staff morale and were undermining the stability of the Shire”

How clever is that!

Q. Similarly, there is the matter of $220,000 in municipal funds that, apparently, disappeared in 2010.The public is still unaware of the current whereabouts of this substantial sum.
Would you be able to enlighten them?

A. We did not need a stupid old ‘Hino’ truck. We bought a ‘John Deere’ Loader instead. It cost us just $256,000, only $36,000 more than that silly truck. We put it through the books as costing $304,450. How clever was that. So what $220,000 are you talking about?

Q. You have four (4) still unexplained claims and expenses totalling $2,058. The terminology for this expenditure without due and proper explanation is “stealing as a servant’ and there are four (4) individual, potential indictments.  Each indictment has a penalty of up to ten (10) years imprisonment under the Criminal Code WA
What is your response?

A. They were all legitimate travel expenses to make me the smartest CEO on the planet.

Q. There is prima facie evidence suggesting that you took considerable personal advantage regarding your rental payment for the premises you occupied for nine (9) years, paying three times below the property’s current rental value. This has never been declared as a Fringe Benefit Tax component by the Shire of York and may result in future penalties and taxes issued to the Shire by the Australian Tax Office.
What is your response?

A. I had to put up with bad TV reception for nine years and one of the toilets didn’t flush properly.

Q. There is a question regarding the deliberate falsification of public records by a public official in 2012. This has a penalty of up to seven (7) years jail under the Criminal Code WA.
Do you know who it was? Do you feel lucky?

A. What’s the difference between Balladong Farm and a vexatious ratepayer? I wasn’t sure so I wrote Balladong Farm.

David Taylor.

Sonny Hooper

Click link

https://youtu.be/dqpZsHF6rCY 

James Best Visioning video
https://youtu.be/SbDVyIfzBMA