Perth Voice Interactive

A BAYSWATER ratepayer has used public question time to grill mayor Filomena Piffaretti over the timing of her resignation.

The timing meant her empty council seat could not be filled by runner-up candidate Sally Palmer (“Shock resignation,” Voice, October 21, 2023).

Ms Piffaretti had explained her resignation in a Facebook post stating she wanted to respect voters’ rights to “choose the council you feel will best represent you”.

Ratepayer Harry Bouzidis, no stranger to holding council to account during public question time, stood up at the October 31 meeting and said what many were thinking after reading the mayor’s explanation: “I’m still very confused.”

He said, “your statement seemed to be well-crafted. Am I to understand that through your door-knocking, members of the public expected you to resign as councillor in order to continue your campaign as mayor?”

Ms Piffaretti answered: “The sentiments I heard from the community whilst out doorknocking was that they wanted council chosen by them who can work together effectively.”

Mr Bouzidis said: “I’m no less confused… so members of the public did not think that you could run for mayor and also fall back on being a councillor if you didn’t get mayor? Is that what I’m expected to understand?”

Ms Piffaretti said: “What I’ve explained is that after speaking with the community, I thought for the best interests for our community if I was not elected mayor, I would not continue as a councillor.”

However if she’d lost the mayoral vote and decided to resign her councillor role, the backfill provision would also apply: Sally Palmer would get the empty seat, and there’d be no need for an extraordinary election.

A tenacious Mr Bouzidis persisted: “Ok, and you decided that just a handful of days before the election? Ok. Alright. Were you aware that your sudden resignation as councillor five days before the election count would trigger a by-election in north ward?”

Ms Piffaretti: “I’m aware that an extraordinary election is a normal process when a councillor that was elected in 2021 resigns… I was aware of the process.”

Mr Bouzidis asked “were you aware of the enormous estimated cost of $50,000 to $70,000 for a by-election that your sudden resignation would impose on the ratepayers of Bayswater?”

Ms Piffaretti: “I accept that the timing wasn’t ideal, but just to clarify there has been an extraordinary election in the past for the north ward in the City of Bayswater, and that cost, to clarify, was $30,000.

“We’re unsure of what the cost is at this stage.”

Mr Bouzidis, after hearing about the updated costs, asked: “You were aware that it would cost the ratepayers of Bayswater $40,000?”

Ms Piffaretti: “I’m aware there’s a process.”

Mr Bouzidis: “And that didn’t bother you?”

Slightly exasperated, Ms Piffaretti said “Mr Bouzidis, I’ve explained my reasons.”

“Ok,” Mr Bouzidis wrapped up. “I just wanted to clarify things. I just wanted to know if it bothered you or not.”

by DAVID BELL