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This is a transcript of the letter sent to MidCoast Council administrator John Turner by Robyn Jenkins on February 2. It advises of her resignation from the MidCoast Council Local Representative Committee effective immediately.
Dear Mr Turner,
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I am unable to continue to participate in an entity which serves no real purpose and has certainly not been permitted or encouraged to make any worthwhile contribution to the establishment of the new council. I do not consider it ethical to continue to accept payment for doing nothing more than represent council at minor civic events and to sit quietly at community meetings like ducks in a row at a showground arcade game.
I acknowledge you do not subscribe to the existence of the committee under the terms of the current Local Government Act however, I think it would have been more principled of you to use this opinion as a reason not to establish the committee in the first place.
I had hoped that being on the Local Representative Committee would enable me to achieve two things; namely to
- continue to ensure the principles of democratic representation were accorded to the community by the decision making authorities, and
- work collaboratively with my colleagues to provide the incoming councillors with a comprehensive range of draft non-operational policies and procedures for their consideration.
I have been unable to achieve either of these and regretfully conclude I can no longer be a part of the process as it has been implemented at MidCoast Council.
Yours sincerely,
Robyn Jenkins.
