AN Oxford Street shop owner has been warned to behave in the public gallery at Vincent city council meetings or risk, “action [being] taken against you”.
Council CEO John Giorgi issued the written warning to Debbie Saunders, owner of 50ml cafe, last week.
It follows a similar warning he’d sent in March.
Ms Saunders and long-time associate Stuart Lofthouse, the owner of nearby Greens & Co, are vocal critics of the council and regularly ask questions at meetings. On May 28 Ms Saunders had accused Cr Julia Wilcox of “rolling [her] eyes” when she spoke, calling it rude.
Mayor Alannah MacTiernan let rip at both Ms Saunders and Mr Lofthouse: “You come here week after week and hurl insults at councillors who are volunteering their time to take this council forward,” she said.
“You and Stuart are welcome to stand at the next election.”
Following that episode, Mr Giorgi wrote to Ms Saunders, citing chapter and verse of the council’s standing orders, stating people must, “comply with a high standard of personal conduct and behaviour and refrain from personal abuse or denigration of another person”.
“Any conduct, behaviour, gestures or actions which cause offence to another person”were prohibited.
“You have caused disturbances and disruption at previous council meetings and have failed to heed the request of [the mayor] to conduct yourself in a civil and proper manner,” he continued. Failure to heed the rules “will result in action being taken against you”.
Mr Lofthouse has confirmed to the Voice both he and Ms Saunders intend to run in October, along with a third candidate yet to be named.
by DAVID BELL
Perth Voice Interactive 
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