By Corey Everitt
This week’s council meeting was mayor versus mayor as Bill Ronald was kicked out of council chambers by Cardinia Shire Mayor Jack Kowarzik instigated by the former for bringing a ‘prop’.
The latest council meeting on 15 June saw former shire mayor Bill Ronald attend to support his opposition against the council’s work to remove a majority of the original light fittings from Heritage Springs.
During community question time at the beginning of the meeting, as one of Ronald’s very own questions was being read out, Ronald brought into the council chambers one of the original fittings, which he required by salvaging it from council contractors.
After the question was answered, Mayor Kowarzik interrupted proceedings to request Ronald remove the item from the meeting – something the mayor referred to as a ‘prop’.
“He brought the light just so people could see what we were talking about, people don’t understand how big and interesting they are from on high,” Ronald’s wife Jillian, who was also in attendance, said.
“Why wouldn’t the mayor just ignore it?”
The Gazette spoke to multiple sources in attendance that evening, accounts say Ronald began to oblige with the request and others say he signalled his refusal to remove the prop.
Mayor Kowarzik then ordered Ronald to remove himself from the meeting.
Departing the chambers, Ronald walked with fitting around the council chambers on his way out to fully showcase it to those watching from the gallery and online.
