At this week's council meeting, Councillor Noel Perry said he had received "unsolicited" emails from residents.
Thirty-eight residents and ratepayers had written emails to all councillors about an important issue growth and development in Ballarat West and a more than $40 million liability the council is accepting for infrastructure.
For Cr Noel Perry to call emails from residents "unsolicited" suggests residents should only contact him if he asks them to.
Otherwise, as our representative, he doesn't want to hear from us.
Worse still, Cr Perry then said he had recognised some of the names of people who had emailed him and he considered them "junk".
Not only were Cr Perry's comments offensive, they send a clear message that participation from residents in council affairs is unwanted and ignored.
Not one councillor spoke up to call Cr Perry to account or make it clear that the 38 residents who had expressed a view were being listened to and respected. Cr Perry should publicly apologise for treating residents with contempt and Cr Perry and other councillors should take steps to assure all residents that their views are welcome and participation is encouraged.
JON STANGER
Mount Pleasant