I'm both astounded and p----d off that its cost the ratepayers over $5000 for Hooper to attend 2, 2 hour sessions at a worthless conference. What makes it worse is that Hooper's second chosen session was 'community engagement modern democracy', Hooper must have been picking his nose at the back of the classroom for that one! Where is the policy that states Hooper can spend ratepayers money while on annual leave? Where is the policy that states the ratepayer pay for Hooper's wife? What does the policy say about Hooper buying books for his junket, reading them, and weeks later putting them into the library. I cannot believe we paid for 8 days holiday, plus flights, for 4 hours of conference. Hooper was not authorised to spend this money, the invoices were never questioned by Maziuk or any other subordinate, Council foolishly retrospectively approved Hooper's corporate credit card expenditure. Apart from Maziuk, no one knew what he was spending, the statements were never published, zero public scrutiny, the mans a thief! Why is no one doing anything about this and why didn't Councillors pick this up at the time? Why didn't Councils auditors pick this up? If this isn't stealing as a servant exactly what is?????
Whilst researching, let us know if there were copies of 'Cheek of the Devil' by Tad Underhand or 'Daylight Robbery' by Stan Dandeliver ( and I promise I won't do this again!)
Here are the details of the books purchased for the Shire of York Library by CEO Ray Hooper whilst holidaying in Hobart
Rules of honour A Joe Hunter thriller by Author: Matt Hilton $29.99 Storyline: When Rink's father is brutally murdered, Joe has to stop his friend rushing headlong for vengeance. Because Rink's mother witnessed the crime and Yukiko isn't telling everything she knows. Her silence is governed by the Japanese tradition of giri, or moral obligation. But when there are more vicious deaths - all of them elderly men known to Yukiko - it becomes a matter of honour to uncover the shameful secret that lies behind the murders. The killer isn't playing by the rules. But some rules are made to be broken and Joe doesn't care what he breaks to ensure Rink gets his revenge.
Sacrifice (Ryan Drake) Author: Will Jordan $32.95 Storyline: Afghanistan, 2008. A Black Hawk helicopter carrying a senior CIA operative is shot down by a surface to air missile, its lone passenger taken hostage by a fanatical new insurgent group. Knowing this man holds information vital to the ongoing conflict, the CIA bring in Ryan Drake and his elite Shepherd team to find and rescue their lost operative. But nothing is what it seems, and within hours of arriving in the war-torn country, Drake and his team find themselves caught in a deadly conflict between a brutal terrorist warlord and the ruthless leader of a private military company. And lurking in the shadows is a woman from Drake's past determined to settle old scores…
Chris Ryan Extreme Night Strike Author: Chris Ryan $26.99 Storyline: Former SAS hero John Bald is a man at war with himself and losing the fight. But then he is reluctantly thrust back into a world he thought he left behind... Faster, deadlier, grittier. ..a sharp shock of a read.
Ultimatum Author: Simon Kernick $32.95 Storyline: A threat has been made. An ultimatum delivered. Innocent people are in mortal danger.....a race-against-time thriller. THE THREAT 8am: an explosion blasts through a cafe in Central London. THE ULTIMATUM: Minutes later, a call from an unknown terror group warns that a far greater attack will be launched in 12 hours' time.
Make what you will of the thrilling book choices?!? What a strange way to purchase books for the library and also very ineffective cost wise - they are so much cheaper to purchase online! These and numerous other books were also purchased by the former CEO for the Shire library at strange locations (to include airports or locations interstate), by the time they found their way into the library they were probably a bit dog-eared! Will let you have a list of some other book choices over several years if you are interested.
How convenient that the CEO can purchase books of his choice, read them and then donate them to the library and claim it as an expense. Again, if the audit committee at the time (the council) had been monitoring this expenditure I am sure they would have (or should have) asked if this was appropriate.
Who reads four books on an eight day holiday anyway?
Actually, newspapers are conserved by The York [Historical] Society's Archives at Sandalwood Yards. Artifacts and photographs are conserved at the Residency Museum. The Sally I know would know this, unless she has gone into age-related decline.
Hi York Fact Freak, Yes you may be right about that other Sally. Now I think about it, no one has seen her for a while.
I'm a different Sally. I am seriously concerned about the future of York, which of course does include preserving it's History. In future, I will use the name 'Sally one of the ordinary folk'.
There is nothing ordinary about the other Sally. That smile is in fact quite extraordinary and not in a good way. Make's me cringe. A friend of mine once saw her with a overly huge hat on and suggested she wears it so she won't melt in the sun. I was a bit slow on the uptake and asked "What do you mean?". Well he said she's plastic isn't she? Yes plastic smile I get it now haha.
Congratulations to the author of this amusing but deadly serious and painstakingly researched bit of satire.
Is what's alleged here a one-off rip-off or part of a pattern of behaviour stretching back years?
If the evidence is as convincing as the moderator indicates, CEO Hooper seems to have a case to answer and should be given his day in court. I have seen ordinary alleged malefactors hauled before the magistrate for much less serious misconduct than is alleged here.
Perhaps it was bad luck for them that they didn't have friends in high places.
Is any other person, councillor or council employee, alleged to have had fingers in the till?
Is there evidence that CEO Hooper had permission from Council to charge up his holiday expenses to ratepayers?
Were these and similar matters referred to the police and the CCC, as I am given to understand the Council resolved they should be?
If so, what action, if any, has been taken by either investigating body?
Is some kind of cover-up at work here, and if so, why and for whose benefit?
What was that you were saying about probity, Mr Jolly? Not 'crossing your fingers and hoping', surely?
Thankyou James - in answer to your questions: Is what's alleged here a one-off rip-off or part of a pattern of behaviour stretching back years? No it's not a one off Yes there is a pattern and Yes it stretches back years Is any other person, councillor or council employee, alleged to have had fingers in the till? Yes Is there evidence that CEO Hooper had permission from Council to charge up his holiday expenses to ratepayers? No Were these and similar matters referred to the police and the CCC, as I am given to understand the Council resolved they should be? The lawful Resolution of Council seems to have been (unlawfully) ignored ! Doesn't stop someone else taking a trip to an appropriately empowered investigatory body (under Section 25 1(a) of the CCC (Corruption and Crime Commission Act 2003) If so, what action, if any, has been taken by either investigating body? To my knowledge, the CCC have a copy of the Fitz Gerald Report only Is some kind of cover-up at work here, and if so, why and for whose benefit? Simply put, You bet your proverbial there is and Take your pick of the following - fear, politics, past cock ups, nepotism, cronyism - (oh just pass me the dickshunree).
So, Ray went to a conference seminar with the topic 'What the future look like'! What a joke, well I'll tell him what his future should look like and it won't cost $5,500. It still involves bars (not the one's in any fancy Hotel) and learning what it's like to talk to a brick wall.
It may be considered that someone really needs to take Ray to the "Just Desserts" (Oops "Just Deserts") Restaurant and leave him there: no wife, no girlfriend, no bed, no breakfast, no junket, no leave, ......... Well, at least to some legally defined just destination. Pigs might fly, you say? Well, he flew to a junket, didn't he.
The worst part about this expenditure is that councillors allowed it to happen. Tony and Pat were often asked how they could be auditing their own books. No other organisations get away with that. They also both assured us that while we were not allowed to view credit card expenditure, that they were monitoring it. More lies.
They ARE legally supposed to share the Credit Card info with the ratepayers. They just simply chose not to. When complaints were made to DLG they wrote the the CEO and told him he must be transparent but he ignored their advice. Follow up complaints with the DLG were ignored. He got away with this for years and the DLG did nothing about it. So you imagine what the real cost to our community is.
Questions were asked over and over again at Council meetings about it. Tony and Pat assured us that THEY (the audit committee) had access to the credit card statements and that THEY have audited them. I personally asked on several occassions what qualified them to audit their own books but of course those questions were not allowed because they were construed as questioning their competency-Well Der..That's exactly what I was asking. Are you competent to manage our money and can you be transparent? It is our money after all.
So our hands were tied. We were left to assume there was nothing untoward because our two past Presidents said so. We knew it was a lie but if the DLG won't interfere what can you do?
You just keep asking that's all you can do, which we did. Usually the following week a horrible little yellow piece of paper would usually turn up in your mailbox from the CEO, usually with a threat of prosecution or similar. The threats were usually bogus health issues which they just made up, but it was just to let you know that if you question the CEO or Councillors competency or transparency you will be intimidated and threatened. There is a long pattern of this. I am sure many other bloggers can recall countless times they asked a question of the Council they didn't want to answer and soon after received bad news in the mail.
Ray's expenditure is disgusting and a blatant display of arrogance and sense of entitlement, but as I said previously Pat, Tony and the DLG preventing it from being publicly scrutinized is the real crime here.
Tony and Pat excused every bad financial decision or oversight by saying "were not accountants." Not good enough in my book. If you don't understand you ask questions. Better yet, when ratepayers ask questions, instead of taking offence and assuming we are asking "for the sport of it" you listen, learn and investigate.
I am one of those persecuted by Ray Hooper and his henchmen. Thanks to them and the councillors who condoned what ray hooper was doing to residents I came close to a breakdown. I even seriously considered suicide.
Ray hooper, Tony Boyle, Pat Hooper, Brian Lawrance, Trevor Randel, Roy Scott and Mark Duperouzel, I hope one day you will come to realise the full extent of what you participated in. You damaged so many peoples lives here in York and sat back and laughed about it. This makes you no different to the cowards who frequent the alleys in the city after dark.
Looking back (with help of my family), I realise Ray was simply a COWARD because he picked on those most vulnerable within the community to target.
Whether it be right or wrong, I'll leave that up to you people; but it is often a part of a Local Gov CEO's salary package to include . eg cash component, housing, vehicle, fuel and an amount allocated for conferences. So in legal terms the money is in fact theirs as part of their total negotiated remuneration. This maybe why the DLG, CCC, Auditors etc do not view the credit card expenditure as fraud if they have not exceeded their allowance as per the contract. I don't know anything personally about the York business but thought I would just give a layman's view on why the authorities aren't acting in the way you wish them to. I think you'll find in many councils, for both staff and elected members along with their partners, the funding for attending conferences is part of the shire expenditure. I guess it comes down to ethics and integrity of the individual. Another point to consider, is, were any of these expenses reimbursed back to the shire coffers. I'll leave that for your investigators to discover. To make it clear, I am not and never have been a resident of York. I just have a perverse interest in how Local Government works..or maybe in this case doesn't work. I will be interested to see how all this unfolds in the next 6 months. Good luck to you all!
Your Nosy Neighbour - You may be right. Our Ex CEO Ray Hooper probably wrote up his own contract and presented it to our inept Councillors to sign off on. He was a very crafty CEO devoid of ethics and integrity. He had our councillors hood winked.
Anyone had a letter back from Barnett? I'd like to see if he'll publicly support the Minister and DLG after having his people's read the blog and files in Graham's office
On 5th and 8th December I copied The Premier into an e-mail I sent to the Minister and Mia Davies. I got replies from the Minister's office and Mia's, but not from The Premier or anyone on his behalf. Why? No doubt because Premier means 'top dog' and we are too far beneath him. He may think of the responsibility as being that of his 'inferiors', and hence a kind of 'delegated authority' , but in other matters and organisations (maybe the government is a Dis-organisation?) the buck stops with the most senior man. Hmmmmmmm. He is good at wriggling out of things and doesn't bat an eyelid at criticism, even if the television cameras are direct on him, so why could he or one of his peons not have at least written back a typical letter of beaurocratic speak? — just for the sake of appearing to take the matter seriously at least.?????? Now you have got me most upset, TOLDUSO. I had just passed the matter over as 'an oversight' to date — or maybe not knowing the ettiquette of communication.
Which Barnett people have read the blog and files in Graham's Office (the CEO?)?
If there is a direct link to the Premier that is great as it is highly important, in fact crucial, that all the relevant authorities and government people such as the Premier, Minister, local members, DLGC, CCC etc are all formally made aware of the issues so that they cannot later deny not being aware. This is where the new community timeline becomes so critical and there is a record of who knew what and when, and who did or did not act. For example, Mia is going to have trouble explaining to the York community her lack of action to see the concerns are addressed,.and that her position in Cabinet means more to her than the York community.
There is a major cover up under way and most likely that the DLG response to the FOI claim will be doctored to make it almost worthless, but every little bit is evidence that has to become part of the RECORD. The DLGC records to the Shire's response to the Show Cause Notice and its advice to the Minister to suspend will show just how unfair and biased that process is - but the chances of that information being released is NIL.
These people are desperate to bury this saga. But in doing so they are digging their own grave.
garder le moral lâche pas votre foi dans la vérité et la justice. (translated to English) keep your spirits up no loose your faith in the truth and justice.
Your Noisy Neighbour- I have read the Ceo's contract and the Council policy regarding cc expenditure and council reimbursements and can assure you they have no entitlement to claim 8 days expenses for two people when attending a three hr conference.
To clarify, I have written to Barnett asking what he intends to do. If he's going to offer a supportive or even balanced answer he will have to read (have his people read) the rebuttal from Matthew which is located in the current ceo Graham Simpson's office. Not holding my breath of course.
Can someone please tell me why the minister has concluded everything from the 15th of April 2014 is illegal and everything before that date is considered legal.? Or is that just the day someone with an ounce of legal notion thought they didn't have to cover someone else's backside anymore? Can some one please tell me if it smells like its off and looks like its off why are they still trying to preserve it? One could ask the question how far back does this go? How bloody big is this for this amount of corruption and deceit to be ignored? One thing is for sure it will be uncovered because there are no secrets with more than one person!!!! and no one would want to take the fall for this on their own.
I can't understand what the problem is, it's fantastic that the man cared enough to by some books for the library on day one of his holiday, it shows the man is thoughtful and cares deeply. Think about it, lugging books all the way from over East, extraordinary display of dedication!
I agree, it certainly does display outstanding dedication. I am very impressed! To think it may have taken days and days, going from grog shop (oops) to bookshop searching for just the right books. It would have been exhausting for him - at his age.
You're right he also lugged bird baths, mulches, soils and copious amounts of alcohol from Perth (near where he lives) to York. That's what $200k per year Ceo's do, lug garden supplies around purchased on credit cards back to their communities-NOT!
Bird bath, god love the man, an animal lover as well! How we all misjudged Ray, shame on us all, deep down a truly beautiful person. I would love him to come back to York as CEO and we could explore that beautiful inner Ray, with a rusty shovel.
TOLDUSO, You haven't got your facts right, Mr Hooper had full authority to use his credit, if he chooses to buy garden accessories with his credit card, that's his business.
The comment defending the CC use sounds as if it was written by someone within inside knowledge and may be correct, because Councillors always agreed with what Ray wanted. It doesn't make it morally right though does it? Normal people have ethics, principles and common decency when using public money. Then again, we are talking about Ray Hooper - a man with no ethics, principles or common decency.
Alas that I am away but has anyone explored the potential of taking any of this to SAT? It considers and rules on decisions and actions of Shires and others, so why should the DLG be exempt.
May be an avenue to get some action without huge legal costs. Just a thought and I wish I could view all the documentation in the CEO's office. Commissioner Best can show his caring side by releasing the information.
When the Yvc manager went to a training conference which unlike Lg conferences was a gruelling three days of full time learning Mrs Boyle had the audacity to start gossip about the Yvc manager being away sipping cocktails.
She was confronted on the managers return and cried admitting she doesn't normally gossip and apologised.
In light of the cocktail sipping her and her husband have been doing over the years at our expense, in hindsight it's likely a case of guilty conscience.
That's the 'pot calling the kettle black', Tony's understanding is, if you have a mini bar in your hotel room and municipal money is paying for the room, it's mandatory that you empty the mini bar of its contents. Someone has already published that Tony managed to spend twice as much for conference food and accommodation than his fellow Councillors,but then Tony's stomach is twice as big as his fellow Councillors, fair logic....?>
This article was forwarded for publication on the Shire of York Blog.
ReplyDeleteThe author supplied full documentation to support the article.
I'm both astounded and p----d off that its cost the ratepayers over $5000 for Hooper to attend 2, 2 hour sessions at a worthless conference. What makes it worse is that Hooper's second chosen session was 'community engagement modern democracy', Hooper must have been picking his nose at the back of the classroom for that one!
ReplyDeleteWhere is the policy that states Hooper can spend ratepayers money while on annual leave?
Where is the policy that states the ratepayer pay for Hooper's wife?
What does the policy say about Hooper buying books for his junket, reading them, and weeks later putting them into the library.
I cannot believe we paid for 8 days holiday, plus flights, for 4 hours of conference.
Hooper was not authorised to spend this money, the invoices were never questioned by Maziuk or any other subordinate, Council foolishly retrospectively approved Hooper's corporate credit card expenditure. Apart from Maziuk, no one knew what he was spending, the statements were never published, zero public scrutiny, the mans a thief!
Why is no one doing anything about this and why didn't Councillors pick this up at the time?
Why didn't Councils auditors pick this up?
If this isn't stealing as a servant exactly what is?????
As a matter of interest (I'm a bibliophile) does anyone know what were the books Ray bought on his journey?
DeleteDid he hand them over to the York Library on his return?
Did the books include that great Australian classic, 'Robbery under Wraps' by Rolf Boldasbrass?
Whilst researching, let us know if there were copies of
Delete'Cheek of the Devil' by Tad Underhand or 'Daylight Robbery' by Stan Dandeliver
( and I promise I won't do this again!)
Mr Plumridge,
DeleteHere are the details of the books purchased for the Shire of York Library by CEO Ray Hooper whilst holidaying in Hobart
Rules of honour A Joe Hunter thriller by Author: Matt Hilton $29.99
Storyline: When Rink's father is brutally murdered, Joe has to stop his friend rushing headlong for vengeance. Because Rink's mother witnessed the crime and Yukiko isn't telling everything she knows.
Her silence is governed by the Japanese tradition of giri, or moral obligation. But when there are more vicious deaths - all of them elderly men known to Yukiko - it becomes a matter of honour to uncover the shameful secret that lies behind the murders. The killer isn't playing by the rules. But some rules are made to be broken and Joe doesn't care what he breaks to ensure Rink gets his revenge.
Sacrifice (Ryan Drake) Author: Will Jordan $32.95
Storyline: Afghanistan, 2008. A Black Hawk helicopter carrying a senior CIA operative is shot down by a surface to air missile, its lone passenger taken hostage by a fanatical new insurgent group. Knowing this man holds information vital to the ongoing conflict, the CIA bring in Ryan Drake and his elite Shepherd team to find and rescue their lost operative.
But nothing is what it seems, and within hours of arriving in the war-torn country, Drake and his team find themselves caught in a deadly conflict between a brutal terrorist warlord and the ruthless leader of a private military company. And lurking in the shadows is a woman from Drake's past determined to settle old scores…
Chris Ryan Extreme Night Strike Author: Chris Ryan $26.99
Storyline: Former SAS hero John Bald is a man at war with himself and losing the fight. But then he is reluctantly thrust back into a world he thought he left behind... Faster, deadlier, grittier. ..a sharp shock of a read.
Ultimatum Author: Simon Kernick $32.95
Storyline: A threat has been made. An ultimatum delivered. Innocent people are in mortal danger.....a race-against-time thriller.
THE THREAT 8am: an explosion blasts through a cafe in Central London.
THE ULTIMATUM: Minutes later, a call from an unknown terror group warns that a far greater attack will be launched in 12 hours' time.
Make what you will of the thrilling book choices?!?
What a strange way to purchase books for the library and also very ineffective cost wise - they are so much cheaper to purchase online! These and numerous other books were also purchased by the former CEO for the Shire library at strange locations (to include airports or locations interstate), by the time they found their way into the library they were probably a bit dog-eared!
Will let you have a list of some other book choices over several years if you are interested.
How convenient that the CEO can purchase books of his choice, read them and then donate them to the library and claim it as an expense. Again, if the audit committee at the time (the council) had been monitoring this expenditure I am sure they would have (or should have) asked if this was appropriate.
DeleteWho reads four books on an eight day holiday anyway?
Why didn't the 'alleged' thief just burgle a library?
DeleteBecause he was afraid the judge would give him a long sentence.
How come Ray slipped and fell in the library.
Because he strayed into the Non Friction section.
Ray ordered a joke book from Amazon last April...but he didn't get it.
Tony has just taken up speed reading. Last night he read 'War and Peace' in 20 seconds.
I know it is only 3 words but it's a start!
What's the difference between a thief and a trampoline?
You take off your shoes before you jump on a trampoline.
'Tell me what you read, and I will tell you what you are.'
DeleteWhat do these volumes tell us about the mental world of the purchaser?
A touch of Walter Mitty, perhaps?
Loved the First Edition. Looking forward to tomorrows copy.
ReplyDeleteI hope the Residency Museum is provided a copy to preserve as part of Yorks History!
Actually, newspapers are conserved by The York [Historical] Society's Archives at Sandalwood Yards. Artifacts and photographs are conserved at the Residency Museum. The Sally I know would know this, unless she has gone into age-related decline.
DeleteHi York Fact Freak, Yes you may be right about that other Sally. Now I think about it, no one has seen her for a while.
DeleteI'm a different Sally. I am seriously concerned about the future of York, which of course does include preserving it's History.
In future, I will use the name 'Sally one of the ordinary folk'.
There is nothing ordinary about the other Sally. That smile is in fact quite extraordinary and not in a good way. Make's me cringe. A friend of mine once saw her with a overly huge hat on and suggested she wears it so she won't melt in the sun. I was a bit slow on the uptake and asked "What do you mean?". Well he said she's plastic isn't she? Yes plastic smile I get it now haha.
DeleteCongratulations to the author of this amusing but deadly serious and painstakingly researched bit of satire.
ReplyDeleteIs what's alleged here a one-off rip-off or part of a pattern of behaviour stretching back years?
If the evidence is as convincing as the moderator indicates, CEO Hooper seems to have a case to answer and should be given his day in court. I have seen ordinary alleged malefactors hauled before the magistrate for much less serious misconduct than is alleged here.
Perhaps it was bad luck for them that they didn't have friends in high places.
Is any other person, councillor or council employee, alleged to have had fingers in the till?
Is there evidence that CEO Hooper had permission from Council to charge up his holiday expenses to ratepayers?
Were these and similar matters referred to the police and the CCC, as I am given to understand the Council resolved they should be?
If so, what action, if any, has been taken by either investigating body?
Is some kind of cover-up at work here, and if so, why and for whose benefit?
What was that you were saying about probity, Mr Jolly? Not 'crossing your fingers and hoping', surely?
Thankyou James - in answer to your questions:
DeleteIs what's alleged here a one-off rip-off or part of a pattern of behaviour stretching back years?
No it's not a one off
Yes there is a pattern and
Yes it stretches back years
Is any other person, councillor or council employee, alleged to have had fingers in the till?
Yes
Is there evidence that CEO Hooper had permission from Council to charge up his holiday expenses to ratepayers?
No
Were these and similar matters referred to the police and the CCC, as I am given to understand the Council resolved they should be?
The lawful Resolution of Council seems to have been (unlawfully) ignored !
Doesn't stop someone else taking a trip to an appropriately empowered investigatory body (under Section 25 1(a) of the CCC (Corruption and Crime Commission Act 2003)
If so, what action, if any, has been taken by either investigating body?
To my knowledge, the CCC have a copy of the Fitz Gerald Report only
Is some kind of cover-up at work here, and if so, why and for whose benefit?
Simply put,
You bet your proverbial there is
and
Take your pick of the following - fear, politics, past cock ups, nepotism, cronyism - (oh just pass me the dickshunree).
I do hope Charlie's Circus Clowns read this Blog. But wait, they haven't got a particularly good history with credit card control, have they?
ReplyDeleteSo, Ray went to a conference seminar with the topic 'What the future look like'!
ReplyDeleteWhat a joke, well I'll tell him what his future should look like and it won't cost $5,500.
It still involves bars (not the one's in any fancy Hotel) and learning what it's like to talk to a brick wall.
It may be considered that someone really needs to take Ray to the "Just Desserts" (Oops "Just Deserts") Restaurant and leave him there: no wife, no girlfriend, no bed, no breakfast, no junket, no leave, ......... Well, at least to some legally defined just destination. Pigs might fly, you say? Well, he flew to a junket, didn't he.
ReplyDeleteThe worst part about this expenditure is that councillors allowed it to happen. Tony and Pat were often asked how they could be auditing their own books. No other organisations get away with that. They also both assured us that while we were not allowed to view credit card expenditure, that they were monitoring it. More lies.
ReplyDeleteI thought Local Government was supposed to be open and accountable.
DeleteWhere in the Local Government Act does it state the CEO's itemised credit card expenditure can be lawfully with held from councillors and ratepayers?
Where in the Act does it state Councillors were not permitted to see the itemised statements?
Who told Councillors they were not allowed to view the credit card expenditure?
Can anyone answer these questions?
They ARE legally supposed to share the Credit Card info with the ratepayers. They just simply chose not to. When complaints were made to DLG they wrote the the CEO and told him he must be transparent but he ignored their advice. Follow up complaints with the DLG were ignored. He got away with this for years and the DLG did nothing about it. So you imagine what the real cost to our community is.
DeleteQuestions were asked over and over again at Council meetings about it. Tony and Pat assured us that THEY (the audit committee) had access to the credit card statements and that THEY have audited them. I personally asked on several occassions what qualified them to audit their own books but of course those questions were not allowed because they were construed as questioning their competency-Well Der..That's exactly what I was asking. Are you competent to manage our money and can you be transparent? It is our money after all.
So our hands were tied. We were left to assume there was nothing untoward because our two past Presidents said so. We knew it was a lie but if the DLG won't interfere what can you do?
You just keep asking that's all you can do, which we did. Usually the following week a horrible little yellow piece of paper would usually turn up in your mailbox from the CEO, usually with a threat of prosecution or similar. The threats were usually bogus health issues which they just made up, but it was just to let you know that if you question the CEO or Councillors competency or transparency you will be intimidated and threatened. There is a long pattern of this. I am sure many other bloggers can recall countless times they asked a question of the Council they didn't want to answer and soon after received bad news in the mail.
Ray's expenditure is disgusting and a blatant display of arrogance and sense of entitlement, but as I said previously Pat, Tony and the DLG preventing it from being publicly scrutinized is the real crime here.
Tony and Pat excused every bad financial decision or oversight by saying "were not accountants." Not good enough in my book. If you don't understand you ask questions. Better yet, when ratepayers ask questions, instead of taking offence and assuming we are asking "for the sport of it" you listen, learn and investigate.
I am one of those persecuted by Ray Hooper and his henchmen. Thanks to them and the councillors who condoned what ray hooper was doing to residents I came close to a breakdown.
DeleteI even seriously considered suicide.
Ray hooper, Tony Boyle, Pat Hooper, Brian Lawrance, Trevor Randel, Roy Scott and Mark Duperouzel, I hope one day you will come to realise the full extent of what you participated in. You damaged so many peoples lives here in York and sat back and laughed about it.
This makes you no different to the cowards who frequent the alleys in the city after dark.
Looking back (with help of my family), I realise Ray was simply a COWARD because he picked on those most vulnerable within the community to target.
Whether it be right or wrong, I'll leave that up to you people; but it is often a part of a Local Gov CEO's salary package to include . eg cash component, housing, vehicle, fuel and an amount allocated for conferences. So in legal terms the money is in fact theirs as part of their total negotiated remuneration. This maybe why the DLG, CCC, Auditors etc do not view the credit card expenditure as fraud if they have not exceeded their allowance as per the contract. I don't know anything personally about the York business but thought I would just give a layman's view on why the authorities aren't acting in the way you wish them to. I think you'll find in many councils, for both staff and elected members along with their partners, the funding for attending conferences is part of the shire expenditure. I guess it comes down to ethics and integrity of the individual. Another point to consider, is, were any of these expenses reimbursed back to the shire coffers. I'll leave that for your investigators to discover.
DeleteTo make it clear, I am not and never have been a resident of York. I just have a perverse interest in how Local Government works..or maybe in this case doesn't work. I will be interested to see how all this unfolds in the next 6 months.
Good luck to you all!
Your Nosy Neighbour -
DeleteYou may be right. Our Ex CEO Ray Hooper probably wrote up his own contract and presented it to our inept Councillors to sign off on. He was a very crafty CEO devoid of ethics and integrity. He had our councillors hood winked.
Anyone had a letter back from Barnett? I'd like to see if he'll publicly support the Minister and DLG after having his people's read the blog and files in Graham's office
ReplyDeleteTolduso, I am confused, when you say Graham's office, do you mean Minister Tony Simpson's office?
DeleteOn 5th and 8th December I copied The Premier into an e-mail I sent to the Minister and Mia Davies. I got replies from the Minister's office and Mia's, but not from The Premier or anyone on his behalf. Why? No doubt because Premier means 'top dog' and we are too far beneath him. He may think of the responsibility as being that of his 'inferiors', and hence a kind of 'delegated authority' , but in other matters and organisations (maybe the government is a Dis-organisation?) the buck stops with the most senior man. Hmmmmmmm. He is good at wriggling out of things and doesn't bat an eyelid at criticism, even if the television cameras are direct on him, so why could he or one of his peons not have at least written back a typical letter of beaurocratic speak? — just for the sake of appearing to take the matter seriously at least.?????? Now you have got me most upset, TOLDUSO. I had just passed the matter over as 'an oversight' to date — or maybe not knowing the ettiquette of communication.
DeleteWhich Barnett people have read the blog and files in Graham's Office (the CEO?)?
ReplyDeleteIf there is a direct link to the Premier that is great as it is highly important, in fact crucial, that all the relevant authorities and government people such as the Premier, Minister, local members, DLGC, CCC etc are all formally made aware of the issues so that they cannot later deny not being aware. This is where the new community timeline becomes so critical and there is a record of who knew what and when, and who did or did not act. For example, Mia is going to have trouble explaining to the York community her lack of action to see the concerns are addressed,.and that her position in Cabinet means more to her than the York community.
There is a major cover up under way and most likely that the DLG response to the FOI claim will be doctored to make it almost worthless, but every little bit is evidence that has to become part of the RECORD. The DLGC records to the Shire's response to the Show Cause Notice and its advice to the Minister to suspend will show just how unfair and biased that process is - but the chances of that information being released is NIL.
These people are desperate to bury this saga. But in doing so they are digging their own grave.
The truth will come out.
Yes, I also believe the truth will come out. Look what happened to Rolf Harris. He thought he was protected but he is behind bars.
Deletegarder le moral lâche pas votre foi dans la vérité et la justice. (translated to English) keep your spirits up no loose your faith in the truth and justice.
DeleteYour Noisy Neighbour- I have read the Ceo's contract and the Council policy regarding cc expenditure and council reimbursements and can assure you they have no entitlement to claim 8 days expenses for two people when attending a three hr conference.
ReplyDeleteHey that is good news Tolduso - thanks for letting the people know.
ReplyDeleteJust goes to show how powerful this blog is.
The walls are beginning to close in.
To clarify, I have written to Barnett asking what he intends to do. If he's going to offer a supportive or even balanced answer he will have to read (have his people read) the rebuttal from Matthew which is located in the current ceo Graham Simpson's office. Not holding my breath of course.
ReplyDeleteCan someone please tell me why the minister has concluded everything from the 15th of April 2014 is illegal and everything before that date is considered legal.?
ReplyDeleteOr is that just the day someone with an ounce of legal notion thought they didn't have to cover someone else's backside anymore?
Can some one please tell me if it smells like its off and looks like its off why are they still trying to preserve it?
One could ask the question how far back does this go?
How bloody big is this for this amount of corruption and deceit to be ignored?
One thing is for sure it will be uncovered because there are no secrets with more than one person!!!! and no one would want to take the fall for this on their own.
I can't understand what the problem is, it's fantastic that the man cared enough to by some books for the library on day one of his holiday, it shows the man is thoughtful and cares deeply.
ReplyDeleteThink about it, lugging books all the way from over East, extraordinary display of dedication!
I agree, it certainly does display outstanding dedication. I am very impressed!
DeleteTo think it may have taken days and days, going from grog shop (oops) to bookshop searching for just the right books. It would have been exhausting for him - at his age.
You're right he also lugged bird baths, mulches, soils and copious amounts of alcohol from Perth (near where he lives) to York. That's what $200k per year Ceo's do, lug garden supplies around purchased on credit cards back to their communities-NOT!
ReplyDeleteBird bath, god love the man, an animal lover as well!
DeleteHow we all misjudged Ray, shame on us all, deep down a truly beautiful person.
I would love him to come back to York as CEO and we could explore that beautiful inner Ray,
with a rusty shovel.
TOLDUSO, You haven't got your facts right, Mr Hooper had full authority to use his credit, if he chooses to buy garden accessories with his credit card, that's his business.
DeleteNot if he's using our money to improve his own garden. I'm not saying he did that, but if he did, that's a crime.
DeleteIf he was using his own personal credit card, one he pays for, good luck to him.
The comment defending the CC use sounds as if it was written by someone within inside knowledge and may be correct, because Councillors always agreed with what Ray wanted. It doesn't make it morally right though does it?
DeleteNormal people have ethics, principles and common decency when using public money.
Then again, we are talking about Ray Hooper - a man with no ethics, principles or common decency.
It would be timely for Matthew Reid to come out and address his community and show us he is as determined as we are.
ReplyDeleteAlas that I am away but has anyone explored the potential of taking any of this to SAT? It considers and rules on decisions and actions of Shires and others, so why should the DLG be exempt.
ReplyDeleteMay be an avenue to get some action without huge legal costs. Just a thought and I wish I could view all the documentation in the CEO's office. Commissioner Best can show his caring side by releasing the information.
When the Yvc manager went to a training conference which unlike Lg conferences was a gruelling three days of full time learning Mrs Boyle had the audacity to start gossip about the Yvc manager being away sipping cocktails.
ReplyDeleteShe was confronted on the managers return and cried admitting she doesn't normally gossip and apologised.
In light of the cocktail sipping her and her husband have been doing over the years at our expense, in hindsight it's likely a case of guilty conscience.
That's the 'pot calling the kettle black', Tony's understanding is, if you have a mini bar in your hotel room and municipal money is paying for the room, it's mandatory that you empty the mini bar of its contents. Someone has already published that Tony managed to spend twice as much for conference food and accommodation than his fellow Councillors,but then Tony's stomach is twice as big as his fellow Councillors, fair logic....?>
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