Picture: SANDRA MORELLO
GRANT District Mayor Richard Sage says elected members can choose to give him a “mountain bike” amid questions over what sort of mayoral car he should have access to.
At council’s full meeting this week, Cr Megan Dukalskis sparked debate over the mayoral car, which is due to be changed over under council policy.
The discussion comes a week after elected members stripped his “private use” of the mayoral vehicle during an emotion-fuelled special meeting last week.
In an extraordinary move, Mr Sage was also dumped as the council’s principal spokesperson following accusations he breached the elected member behavioural charter.
Mr Sage currently drives a Ford Ranger XLT Diesel Dual Cab, which has a replacement cost of $50,000 if a 2019 model was purchased.
His current vehicle cost $35,000, according to the council.
Cr Megan Dukalskis lodged a notice of motion in this week’s council agenda regarding the vehicle provided to Mr Sage.
“I would like to bring to your attention the mayoral vehicle is due for a changeover and so we are aware of the financial situation,” Cr Dukalskis said.
“I have asked Jane (Fetherstonhaugh) to provide a list of what the other mayoral vehicles are in the region and she has come back to me and said which ones have private use and do not.”
She said the information also included the periodic change of mayoral vehicles.
The councillor said she wanted to put it up for “discussion” and hear councillors’ views so “we are all on the same page”.
This prompted Mr Sage to question Cr Dukalskis “what her concerns were”.
In response, she said she wanted the “matter up for discussion so everyone knows”.
“Otherwise, it will have gone about and we have not discussed it,” the councillor said.
Mr Sage said these matters were traditionally handled by the works department and a report was tabled at council via works manager Adrian Schutz.
“Adrian has been on leave, so I thought I will bring it up,” Cr Dukalskis said.
“Do you think you need a four-wheel drive Richard?”
Responding, Mr Sage said the issue was “up to the council” and they could decide a “mountain bike if you would like”.
“I travel on back roads and undertake inspections. The kangaroos are prolific and I travel a lot at night,” he said.
“The changeovers are equitable to the council staff changeovers, so I cannot really see what the issue is.”
Moreover, he said the fuel economy in his current vehicle was good.
Contributing to the debate, deputy mayor Gill Clayfield said it appeared there were no mayoral cars in the region priced at more than $40,000.
She said there had been questions in the media this week asking why mayors needed “top of the range cars”.
But council acting chief executive officer Jane Fetherstonhaugh said the car purchase costs were heavily discounted.
For example, she said $35,000 for the Mount Gambier mayoral car would probably cost around $45,000 “for the normal person” to purchase.
“There is a significant discount we get through government purchasing,” Ms Fetherstonhaugh said.
Cr Dukalskis moved the matter lay on the table until the works manager prepares a report for a future council meeting, which was supported by the majority of councillors.
According to council policy, all vehicles will be changed over at an age and/or distance which represents best value for council.
“Changeovers should be no more frequent than 15,000km or nine months, whichever comes first, nor less frequently than two years or 60,000km whichever comes first,” the policy said.
