Laggardly letter shows art of semantics

I did eventually receive my copy of the letter to which I was entitled, which explained how the council enquiry arrived at its decision that Cr Drake was not guilty of a conflict of interests.

It has confirmed my view that bureaucrats today are well trained in the art of semantics.

It seems that Cr Drake's letter of intimidation to a member of the public was not relevant when he voted on and discussed five development applications proposed by Wales and Associates.

There was a distinction made between him acting as a solicitor for the individuals and for their business entity.

Most people would think that this is splitting hairs.

Instead of dealing with the issues, councils play semantics and in much the same way they also play with our vocabulary.

Vandalism is surely always an illegal act. It is the wanton or deliberate destruction caused by a vandal and a vandal is someone who deliberately causes damage or destruction to personal or public property.

Such damage is illegal whether it is the breaking of a shop window in Umina or the destruction of trees on the Ettalong Foreshore.

Council must be seen to act on both such illegal acts.

It would seem however that in the view of our council such acts are only vandalism when they are done by a down and out or by a bored youth.

When they are done by a person with power or influence, it is acceptable.

The cutting down of large banksias at Ettalong is against council's own tree preservation rules.

The banner was erected quite lawfully according to Council's own agenda, therefore the removal of this legitimate banner on the Ettalong Foreshore on the whim of the mayor is unacceptable.

Since the Department of Local Government appears to see its role as protecting councils from public scrutiny, where can members of the public go to get an open, honest opinion and advice, when they perceive that councils have not been completely transparent in facing the issues?

Where can we find people to represent us who can think independently, follow the rules and who above all demonstrate integrity when interpreting councils own code of conduct.

I can only hope that there are such candidates standing for election but I am fearful that money will win as it usually does.

We now live in an economy not a society.

Margaret Lund Woy Woy Bay