Wrong address
MAYOR Paul Klisaris was taken off the Oakleigh electoral roll in 2000 because the Hughesdale address he provided was not his permanent residential address.
In May 2000, following a complaint lodged by former councillor Jack Davis, the Victorian Electoral Commission decided he was not entitled to be enrolled because the address on his nomination form was actually that of his child-care centre - ABC Academy of Child Care at 13 Warrigal Road, Hughesdale.
At the time, Cr Klisaris, who lives in East Malvern, said he had at all times acted "honestly and openly" as to where he lived.
He resigned from his position as a councillor and re-enrolled after his company nominated him as its representative on the Monash voters roll.
The by-election, which cost Monash Council $50,000, was contested by a record 14 candidates. Cr Klisaris was re-elected with 5917 votes after the distribution of preferences.
Tempers flare
ON June 18, 2002, then mayor Geoff Lake made a "profane" remark to former councillor Kathy Magee after a council meeting.
Tempers had flared at a special council meeting to appoint a new Monash representative to the South Eastern Regional Waste Management Group. The position had previously been held by Cr Lake, who resigned following disputes with other members.
Cr Magee said the term used was "a very derogatory word for anyone, but especially for a female." Cr Lake told the Journal he had apologised for the comment and that he had been "very angry" and had spoken in a tone he would not normally use.
Court proceedings
CR Tom Morrissey applied for an intervention order against Cr Lake after a "protest" outside his business and allegations of stalking. On March 6, 2003, police were called to Burwood Plumbing after Cr Lake and Cr Paul Klisaris protested outside the store owned by Cr Morrissey.
Cr Lake said he was protesting against Cr Morrissey's "wastage of money on trips with the South East Regional Waste Management Group".
Cr Morrissey applied for an intervention order at the Ringwood Magistrates Court. He claimed Cr Lake had organised a letter drop to 8000 homes that accused him of travelling at ratepayers' expense and provided his mobile phone number to other people, resulting in 65 abusive phone calls. He also claimed Cr Lake had parked a car in front of his business and would not let people into his store.
The application was withdrawn after Cr Lake apologised in writing.
Caucus claims
FORMER councillors Dane Manzie and Gerry Kottek claimed they attended caucus meetings with the council's longstanding ALP team - councillors Lake, Klisaris, Stephen Dimopoulos, Joy Banerji and Charlotte Baines.
According to ALP rules seen by the Journal, endorsed and supported Labor candidates must attend caucus meetings to determine how to vote, who will nominate agenda items and who will be mayor - or face being kicked out of the party.
Mr Manzie, who was elected in 2005, said he took part in caucusing for the first 12 months of his term. He said that during the meetings, it was agreed how the group would vote and who might raise an objection.
However, the claims were denied by Labor councillors, who said they were merely trying to "bond socially over coffee".
Email a friend