Councillor defends pay, hopes for no new faces on council

Yakamia ward representative Robert Sutton has defended councillor pay and thrown his support behind his fellow councillors who are up for re-election.

Addressing the City of Albany’s council chamber last Tuesday night, Cr Sutton said he hoped to see “each and every face” back in council seats after the October 19 election.

“I would love to see all the same faces there. The reason being is that it’s been a terrific council to work with,” he said.

Cr Sutton said the council’s cohesion had come a long way since he was first elected 10 years ago.

He said in-fighting, morning telephone calls following council meetings and rescission motions were rampant in the early years of his tenure.

“We’ve had none of that, it’s been great, and as a result you probably look around town in the last four years (and see) we’ve taken massive steps,” he said.

“That’s why I’d love to see a continuation. In my early years, it was a battle ground, but now people can exchange ideas and people don’t get upset and they accept other people’s ideas.”

Cr Sutton cited the work being done on various projects, including the proposed Great Southern Motorplex and Middleton Beach surf reef, as reflections of the current council’s attitude of working together for the benefit of the community.

In the face of criticism from some ratepayers and candidates, Cr Sutton defended the amount elected members were paid.

Cr Sutton said most of the work done by councillors happened during committee meetings and outside of scheduled meetings.

“The hourly rate would be shocking,” he said.