Thursday, 24 July 2014

FW: CONFIDENTIAL: Letter

NOTE TO FILE:
A patronising response and soft way out of doing doing what really needed to be done
relative to Council’s standards and policies let alone fair dealing.
The GM & Chair need to do the same but there you go!
NOTE: No commitment to deal with the outstanding 3 letters of defamation.

 
Forwarded Message
From: Mayor <Mayor@launceston.tas.gov.au>
Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2014 00:49:56 +0000
To: Ray Norman <raynorman@eftel.net.au>
Subject: RE: CONFIDENTIAL: Letter


Dear Ray
 
Thank you for your email.  I apologise for any hurt and disappointment that I have caused you in relation to your belief of my inaction in relation to the Museum Governance Advisory Board's Special meeting.
 
I wish you all the best with future endeavours.  You have a lot to offer and I am pleased you will continue with your research interests.
 
Kind regards
 

Albert van Zetten I Mayor I Launceston City Council
T 03 6323 3101 I F 03 6323 3125 I
www.launceston.tas.gov.au
<http://www.launceston.tas.gov.au/>


From: Ray Norman [mailto:raynorman@eftel.net.au]
Sent: Wednesday, 23 July 2014 10:23 AM
To: Mayor
Subject: RE: CONFIDENTIAL: Letter

Dear Albert,

If there was as you say, correspondence and discussions, between yourself and the Chairman of the MGAB I have not received any evidence of it. Neither have I received any evidence of the substantive matter that supposedly brought on the Chairman’s Notice of Motion for the MGAB’s Special Meeting. I would need that for natural justice to be served.

It seems that you are asking me to trust you, and on the evidence, I’ve not been provided with a reason to do so in regard to this matter. Consequently, it is likely that I will have an outstanding grievance that is ever likely to be unresolved. It is now also very clear to me that you do not see my point of view. In any event, I do seem to recall you saying somewhere in past correspondence, paraphrased, that you couldn’t help me. It seems not.

I have other things to do with my life besides exchange pointless correspondence with you on all this. Therefore, I’ve decided not to continue this unproductive, unsatisfactory and deeply disturbing  exchange.

I believe that I’m entitled to several apologies and should I ever get one I will graciously receive it and move on. I wish Council well and especially the QVMAG. As Launceston’s musingplace, the institution will remain a research interest for me and not the least for the reason that it is the Tasmanian musingplace at the bottom of the hill upon which I live.

Regards,

Ray

Ray Norman
<zingHOUSEunlimited>
The lifestyle design enterprise and research network

PH: 03-6334 2176
EMAIL 1: raynorman@eftel.net.au
<mailto:raynorman@eftel.net.au>
EMAIL 2: ray@7250.net <mailto:ray@7250.net>
40 Delamere Crescent Trevallyn TAS. 7250
WEBsite: http://www.raynorman7250.blogspot.com
<http://www.raynorman7250.blogspot.com>
NOTICE: this message, and any attachments, may contain privileged and confidential information intended for
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On 22/07/14 6:08 PM, "Mayor" <Mayor@launceston.tas.gov.au
<mailto:Mayor@launceston.tas.gov.au> > wrote:


Dear Ray
 
I reject your claim that I have shown no leadership and did not lift a finger.  I did have correspondence and discussions with the Chair to ensure that you would be treated fairly; afforded due process; and be the recipient of natural justice.
 
Ray, I was unaware that three people outside MGAB received the material.  Are you aware how/who they received the information from?  I will follow up.
 
As you are aware through your position as a member of the Museum Governance Advisory Board, the Board has an advisory function to the Council on matters falling within its remit. The Board does not have specific authority to determine on matters other than generally procedural issues.
 
Mr McKinnon has the prerogative to call a Special Meeting of the MGAB as Chairman. He also has a right, equal to other members of MGAB, to put forward a Notice of Motion for consideration by the meeting as it sees fit.
 
Any member of MGAB, including yourself, has the right to attend the Special Meeting and discuss the Notice of Motion as part of the debate.  The members of MGAB will ultimately make a decision on the Notice of Motion.
 
My understanding is that the NOM was withdrawn following the adoption by the MGAB of a Communications, Confidentiality, Commitment and Conflicts of Interest Policy.
 
As Mayor of Council, I have no specific authority or obligation to intervene in or influence the activities of a legally constituted Committee which reports and is accountable to the elected Council.
 
Kind regards
 
Albert van Zetten I
Mayor I Launceston City Council
T 03 6323 3101 I F 03 6323 3125 I
www.launceston.tas.gov.au <http://www.launceston.tas.gov.au> <http://www.launceston.tas.gov.au/>


From: Ray Norman [mailto:raynorman@eftel.net.au] <mailto:raynorman@eftel.net.au]>
Sent: Sunday, 20 July 2014 3:53 PM
To: Mayor
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL: Letter

CONFIDENTIAL

Dear Albert,

I’ve postponed writing to you until your return from leave. I anticipate that your response to this email will be, as likely as not, the same as previous emails I’ve sent you over the years. That is, you appreciate my point of view and that I’m entitled to it. However, I now ask you how is it possible to comprehend, or accept, such a response in this instance given the position Launcestonians have entrusted you with?

In regard to circumstances surrounding the MGAB’s Special Meeting, I believe that you have stood by and watched as I’ve been defamed – and I believe groundlessly defamed. If I have done something wrong what evidence is there that I’ve done anything at all that was wrong? Do you have it? If you do have it, where is it? Why haven’t I yet seen it?

Whatever, it appears to me that you have shown no leadership whatsoever here in so much as you have not lifted a finger to ensure that:
  • I was treated fairly;
  • I was afforded due process; or that
  • I was the recipient of natural justice.
Furthermore, it seems to me, on this evidence, that you’re not all that interested in upholding Council’s organizational values or its community engagement policyall things you should be seen as claiming to be a champion of. Why is that so? Why haven’t you championed these values here in my case?

All that said, because of your inaction, it seems that the defamation against me persists. Why haven’t you acted? How is it so? Well, three people now outside the MGAB have received the defamatory material and so far as I’m aware no effort at all has been exerted to redress that.

It is your role as Mayor to deliver the leadership you promised to provide to those to whom you are accountable, the Launcestonian’s who elected you, and recompense you, as their community leader. By failing me you are failing all of them too.

Your constituency expects you to ensure that all ratepayers and residents are dealt with in accord with the law and fairly. So far, you clearly haven’t done so in my case. Nonetheless, the opportunity remains open for you to do so. I’ll leave it to your conscience to demonstrate to me that you’re up to the task of matching your promises with unambiguous action.

So as not to end on a sour note I can pass on to you that you are the vicarious recipient of much praise for Council’s provision of Saturday’s Crowdfunding seminar and workshop. It was an excellent initiative on Amanda Mackowski’s & Angela Walsh’s part and long term it promises to keep on giving to the community. That seems to be something of a paradigm shift! Their efforts need to be noted and congratulated by Aldermen.

The only sad note was that nobody from the QVMAG was there. Arguably it’s the very institution in Launceston that most needed the information and opportunities on offer. There are QVMAG staff members that could use the professional development – especially so in a marketing sense.

However, I must acknowledge that one MGAB member was there on another mission, and on his own initiative, so perhaps the opportunity wasn’t entirely lost.

I look forward to your early response.

Regards,

Ray

Ray Norman
<zingHOUSEunlimited>
The lifestyle design enterprise and research network

PH: 03-6334 2176
EMAIL 1: raynorman@eftel.net.au
<mailto:raynorman@eftel.net.au>
EMAIL 2: ray@7250.net <mailto:ray@7250.net>
40 Delamere Crescent Trevallyn TAS. 7250
WEBsite: http://www.raynorman7250.blogspot.com
<http://www.raynorman7250.blogspot.com>
NOTICE: this message, and any attachments, may contain privileged and confidential information intended for
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 <https://twitter.com/LtonCityCouncil
<https://twitter.com/LtonCityCouncil> >  <http://www.youtube.com/user/LauncestonCtyCouncil> <http://www.youtube.com/user/LauncestonCtyCouncil>  <http://www.launceston.tas.gov.au> <http://www.launceston.tas.gov.au>  <http://yourvoiceyourlaunceston.com.au/> <http://yourvoiceyourlaunceston.com.au/>

LAUNCESTON
Named Australia's most family friendly city by Suncorp 2013.
Named Tasmania's top eTown by Google 2013.
Home to Harvest Launceston, named Australia's Best Harvest Market by ABC Delicious magazine 2013.
Home to City Park, named in Australia's top ten parks by TripAdvisor 2013.
Keep Australia Beautiful - Community Action and Partnerships 2013
Tasmanian Tourism Award - Visitor Information and Services 2013
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 <https://twitter.com/LtonCityCouncil>  <http://www.youtube.com/user/LauncestonCtyCouncil>  <http://www.launceston.tas.gov.au>  <http://yourvoiceyourlaunceston.com.au/>

LAUNCESTON
Named Australia's most family friendly city by Suncorp 2013.
Named Tasmania's top eTown by Google 2013.
Home to Harvest Launceston, named Australia's Best Harvest Market by ABC Delicious magazine 2013.
Home to City Park, named in Australia's top ten parks by TripAdvisor 2013.
Keep Australia Beautiful - Community Action and Partnerships 2013
Tasmanian Tourism Award - Visitor Information and Services 2013
LGAT General Excellence Award - State of the Art Launceston Visitor Information Centre 2013

Please consider the environment before printing this, or any other e-mail or document.

________________________________________
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER

Information in this transmission is intended only for the person(s) to whom it is addressed and may contain privileged and/or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying or dissemination of the information is unauthorised and you should delete/destroy all copies and notify the sender. No liability is accepted for any unauthorised use of the information contained in this transmission.

This disclaimer has been automatically added.


------ End of Forwarded Message

Thursday, 17 July 2014

FW: Code of Conduct information


From: Alderman Jeremy Ball <Jeremy.Ball@launceston.tas.gov.au>
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2014 02:38:10 +0000
To: Ray Norman <raynorman@eftel.net.au>
Subject: Code of Conduct information

Dear Ray
 
Please find attached the information I flagged sending re Code of Conduct processes.
 
Attached you will find a flowchart of the process, outline of the LGAT Standards Panel option for hearing of the complaint and the LCC Aldermens' Code of Conduct policy.
 
There is also a Council fee of lodgement of $29.20 for a Code of Conduct complaint.
 
Regards
 
Jeremy
 

From: Ray Norman [mailto:raynorman@eftel.net.au]
Sent: Tuesday, 15 July 2014 11:20 PM
To: Alderman Jeremy Ball
Subject: Re: CONFIDENTIAL: Code of Conduct AGAIN

CONFIDENTIAL
NOTE: I was way too quick on the draw to hit SEND and I have noted that in my hast to keep several balls in the air I’d overlooked my unhelpful spell check’s nasty work ... I’m speaking of defamation NOT deformation even if I do feel somewhat reconfigured.
Hi!

Thank you for your prompt reply. However, I suspect that you’ve missed my point in your current hurly-burly of responsibilities. I wrote mainly about the Code of Conduct meeting we need to have which is quite separate to the Special Meeting issue. We couldn’t discuss it with Ian present as you’ll recall. It doesn’t involve Robert, except for not being able to discuss it with him, but it does need to be discussed and sooner rather than later I believe given the circumstances.


CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER

Information in this transmission is intended only for the person(s) to whom it is addressed and may contain privileged and/or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying or dissemination of the information is unauthorised and you should delete/destroy all copies and notify the sender. No liability is accepted for any unauthorised use of the information contained in this transmission.

This disclaimer has been automatically added.


 <https://twitter.com/LtonCityCouncil>  <http://www.youtube.com/user/LauncestonCtyCouncil>  <http://www.launceston.tas.gov.au>  <http://yourvoiceyourlaunceston.com.au/>

LAUNCESTON
Named Australia's most family friendly city by Suncorp 2013.
Named Tasmania's top eTown by Google 2013.
Home to Harvest Launceston, named Australia's Best Harvest Market by ABC Delicious magazine 2013.
Home to City Park, named in Australia's top ten parks by TripAdvisor 2013.
Keep Australia Beautiful - Community Action and Partnerships 2013
Tasmanian Tourism Award - Visitor Information and Services 2013
LGAT General Excellence Award - State of the Art Launceston Visitor Information Centre 2013

Please consider the environment before printing this, or any other e-mail or document.

________________________________________
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER

Information in this transmission is intended only for the person(s) to whom it is addressed and may contain privileged and/or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying or dissemination of the information is unauthorised and you should delete/destroy all copies and notify the sender. No liability is accepted for any unauthorised use of the information contained in this transmission.

This disclaimer has been automatically added.


------ End of Forwarded Message

Tuesday, 15 July 2014

Re: CONFIDENTIAL: Code of Conduct AGAIN

CONFIDENTIAL
NOTE: I was way too quick on the draw to hit SEND and I have noted that in my hast to keep several balls in the air I’d overlooked my unhelpful spell check’s nasty work ... I’m speaking of defamation NOT deformation even if I do feel somewhat reconfigured.
Hi!

Thank you for your prompt reply. However, I suspect that you’ve missed my point in your current hurly-burly of responsibilities. I wrote mainly about the Code of Conduct meeting we need to have which is quite separate to the Special Meeting issue. We couldn’t discuss it with Ian present as you’ll recall. It doesn’t involve Robert, except for not being able to discuss it with him, but it does need to be discussed and sooner rather than later I believe given the circumstances.

As for the Special Meeting  I have almost no curiosity at all about what was discussed albeit that I imagine I was the subject of the discussion. However, I’m particularly concerned to know if the defamation persists. Given that the original motion was openly distributed to at least three people not bound by the confidentiality of the meeting this is non trivial. Moreover, the people concerned are people who were NOT present at the meeting so far as I’m aware. This compounds the defamation problem significantly and I think you’ll see that.

Despite your very best efforts there are some loose ends that need to be dealt with. Clearly you are not aware of them.

So far as the QVMAG, and musingplaces in general, are concerned I’m up for a productive discussion at any time. I haven’t invested as much in this research as I have and to easily walk away. All this goes way way beyond personalities.

I trust that there’ll be a chance soon to resolve all this.

Regards,

Ray

Ray Norman
<zingHOUSEunlimited>
The lifestyle design enterprise and research network

PH: 03-6334 2176
EMAIL 1: raynorman@eftel.net.au
EMAIL 2: ray@7250.net
40 Delamere Crescent Trevallyn TAS. 7250
WEBsite: http://www.raynorman7250.blogspot.com
NOTICE: this message, and any attachments, may contain privileged and confidential information intended for
the exclusive use of the addressee named above. If you are not the intended recipient of this message you must not
disseminate, copy or take any action in relation to the message. If you have received this message in error,
please immediately notify the sender at the above address and delete all copies of the message
The information in this email is absolutely confidential and commercial-in-confidence
 protocols apply to that information that may have a commercial application.

Furthermore, the intellectual property rights of the author(s) apply in accord with Australian Copyright and Moral Rights Laws.




On 15/07/14 3:36 PM, "Alderman Jeremy Ball" <Jeremy.Ball@launceston.tas.gov.au> wrote:

Thanks very much for your email Ray.
 
Happy to have a discussion at any time however I am booked fairly solid at the moment.
 
The Special MGAB is indeed over and I am always happy to chat however obviously the matters discussed therein are confidential.
 
I'd be keen to sit down and have a really good chat about the museum if that is what you wish to talk about but as I said I'm booked solid for the next little while.
 
Very sorry to hear about the issue with your neighbour - I am happy to follow-up the issue on her behalf to check why the process has been changed - please let me know.
 
Cheers and I have no doubt there will be some very major discussions to be had around the QVMAG over the next 12 months so interesting times…
 
Regards
 
Jeremy
 

From: Ray Norman [mailto:raynorman@eftel.net.au]
Sent: Tuesday, 15 July 2014 9:19 AM
To: Alderman Jeremy Ball
Subject: CONFIDENTIAL: Code of Conduct

CONFIDENTIAL

Hi!

Now that yesterday’s Special MGAB meeting is over I suppose its time that we had our 1 to 1 meeting given that I received a somewhat threatening and somewhat less than conciliatory email from Robert. I am aware that Code of Conduct complaints cannot apply to GM or staff but I think that we have plenty to discuss  beyond that.

On a slightly different tack, my 76 year old neighbour @ #38 Delamere, resident on Trevallyn for all her life, rounded me up to tell me that as a volunteer at The Gorge she, and I assume fellow volunteers, have be told that if they are in trouble in any way they are to call TOWN HALL to get someone to assist. This is as the replacement protocol currently in place where they phone the head gardener(?) on the spot. Given that the new protocol is likely to result in it being in excess of half an hour for someone to get from Town Hall to them, maybe longer(?!) she feels threatened in a way she doesn’t seem to have before.

She often tells us thing about her Gorge volunteering as she clearly likes being there to tell all the stories she knows. I do not think that you could buy what she has to offer as a volunteer even if volunteers are at times, I expect, a bit bothersome!

For some reason while she was talking to us the three recent(?) Council staff suicides(?) were front of mind and apparently a point of discussion among volunteers and posing questions. Rumour and gossip is unfortunate but one wonders what kind of bureaucratic situation might sparks it off. I‘ll let you join the dots here, I’m just the messenger and if you were to talk to her I suspect that she’d have plenty to say to you. I’ll leave what might be done about all this in your safe hands.

I look forward to hearing from you soonish.

Regards,

Ray

Ray Norman
<zingHOUSEunlimited>
The lifestyle design enterprise and research network

PH: 03-6334 2176
EMAIL 1: raynorman@eftel.net.au
EMAIL 2: ray@7250.net
40 Delamere Crescent Trevallyn TAS. 7250
WEBsite: http://www.raynorman7250.blogspot.com
NOTICE: this message, and any attachments, may contain privileged and confidential information intended for
the exclusive use of the addressee named above. If you are not the intended recipient of this message you must not
disseminate, copy or take any action in relation to the message. If you have received this message in error,
please immediately notify the sender at the above address and delete all copies of the message
The information in this email is absolutely confidential and commercial-in-confidence
 protocols apply to that information that may have a commercial application.

Furthermore, the intellectual property rights of the author(s) apply in accord with Australian Copyright and Moral Rights Laws.


http://thequeensmusingplace.blogspot.com.au/


 <https://twitter.com/LtonCityCouncil>  <http://www.youtube.com/user/LauncestonCtyCouncil>  <http://www.launceston.tas.gov.au>  <http://yourvoiceyourlaunceston.com.au/>

LAUNCESTON
Named Australia's most family friendly city by Suncorp 2013.
Named Tasmania's top eTown by Google 2013.
Home to Harvest Launceston, named Australia's Best Harvest Market by ABC Delicious magazine 2013.
Home to City Park, named in Australia's top ten parks by TripAdvisor 2013.
Keep Australia Beautiful - Community Action and Partnerships 2013
Tasmanian Tourism Award - Visitor Information and Services 2013
LGAT General Excellence Award - State of the Art Launceston Visitor Information Centre 2013

Please consider the environment before printing this, or any other e-mail or document.

________________________________________
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER

Information in this transmission is intended only for the person(s) to whom it is addressed and may contain privileged and/or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying or dissemination of the information is unauthorised and you should delete/destroy all copies and notify the sender. No liability is accepted for any unauthorised use of the information contained in this transmission.

This disclaimer has been automatically added.

Saturday, 12 July 2014

FROM Mayor's Office: Re MGAB Letter ... Accepting resignation

------ Forwarded Message
From: Debbie Pickett <Debbie.Pickett@launceston.tas.gov.au>
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 06:34:26 +0000
To: "Ray Norman (raynorman@eftel.net.au)" <raynorman@eftel.net.au>
Subject: MGAB Letter

Hi Ray

On behalf of Acting Mayor, Alderman Jeremy Ball, attached letter for your information.

Kind regards

Debbie Pickett I
Executive Assistant to the Mayor I Launceston City Council
T 03 6323 3101 I F 03 6323 3125 I
www.launceston.tas.gov.au <http://www.launceston.tas.gov.au/> 



CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE


Ald Jeremy Ball: MGAB Letter ... My letter of resignation fro MGAB

----- Forwarded Message
From: Ray Norman <raynorman@eftel.net.au>
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 13:19:43 +1000
To: Alderman Jeremy Ball <Jeremy.Ball@launceston.tas.gov.au>
Conversation: MGAB Letter
Subject: MGAB Letter

TO: Acting Mayor and Aldermen

Dear Jeremy,

I write to you as Acting Mayor and I ask that you accept my resignation from my position on the QVMAG’s MGAB conditional upon the proposed Special Meeting of the MGAB going ahead as has been planned.  I take this action under some duress and to prevent there being any further damage to my reputation against the background of no evidence being provided to support the allegations being made against me, nor any reasonable means proposed to assure me of procedural fairness.

Given that from my perspective: 

  • Launceston City Council via the Mayor and the General Manager appear to me to have utterly failed to provide procedural fairness under the principles of natural justice to a ratepaying member of the community; and 

  • Despite my volunteer work to try to help the QVMAG, and thus Council, find a new and fiscally sustainable operational paradigm within which to operate the QVMAG I am expected to sign a 'loyalty' clause to support the QVMAG no matter what plus give up my independence and other freedoms without any consideration in exchange; and 

  • Given that the MGAB and General Manager are focussing on internal processes at the expense of any open, creative and inclusive debate or critical discourse relevant to alternatives for the QVMAG's future and the protection of its Community of Ownership and Interest’s investments in the institution over time;

Then please accept this letter as my resignation from the MGAB in order that I can spend my time more productively on my research interests and especially so in regard to musingplaces and all that which communities invest in them and the cultural property they individually and collectively place in their trust.

Overall, it is of some interest to me, and it saddens me, that the Council and it's officers seem to be able to convert supporters and ratepayers into enemies so readily. I really feel for any staff member anywhere who finds themselves trapped in a toxic environment.

I wish Council well and the QVMAG well.  I want nothing further to do with either Mr McKinnon or Mr Dobrzynski unless I am provided with suitable legal protections.

Yours sincerely,

Ray Norman

Ray Norman
<zingHOUSEunlimited>
The lifestyle design enterprise and research network

PH: 03-6334 2176
EMAIL 1: raynorman@eftel.net.au
EMAIL 2: ray@7250.net
40 Delamere Crescent Trevallyn TAS. 7250
WEBsite: http://www.raynorman7250.blogspot.com

NOTICE: this message, and any attachments, may contain privileged and confidential information intended for
the exclusive use of the addressee named above. If you are not the intended recipient of this message you must not
disseminate, copy or take any action in relation to the message. If you have received this message in error,
please immediately notify the sender at the above address and delete all copies of the message
The information in this email is absolutely confidential and commercial-in-confidence
 protocols apply to that information that may have a commercial application.

Furthermore, the intellectual property rights of the author(s) apply in accord with Australian Copyright and Moral Rights Laws.


------ End of Forwarded Message

FROM Mayor: ADVICE .... Thu, 26 Jun 2014 23:35:58 +0000

------ Forwarded Message
From: Mayor <Mayor@launceston.tas.gov.au>
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2014 23:35:58 +0000
To: Ray Norman <raynorman@eftel.net.au>
Subject: RE: ADVICE

Hi Ray

Thank you for your interest and concerns re; QVMAG over the many years which has been appreciated.  I believe that we should explore all options in seeking additional funding for QVMAG from the State Government.  I am satisfied that the Council is doing that and will continue in these endeavours unrelentingly.  However should you have any thoughts or ideas on how this should be done differently, I believe you should present them through the Governance Advisory Group and have the Chair inform Council of these ideas. I believe that the Council is acting in the best interests of ratepayers.

Kind regards


Albert van Zetten I Mayor I Launceston City Council
T 03 6323 3101 I F 03 6323 3125 I
www.launceston.tas.gov.au <http://www.launceston.tas.gov.au/>


From: Ray Norman [mailto:raynorman@eftel.net.au]
Sent: Tuesday, 24 June 2014 8:45 PM
To: Mayor
Subject: ADVICE

CONFIDENTIAL

Dear Albert,

I write to you with a number of what I regard to be serious matters on my mind. Not all are directly to do with the QVMAG but all will have some impact on the QVMAG as an operation and as a cultural institution. All have something to do with the quality of LCC decision making plus the issues of accountability and council as a  productive and innovative workplace.

I acknowledge that I am in part in receipt of privileged knowledge in regard to QVMAG which is concerning given the culture of opacity that seems to be in play at LCC and thus the QVMAG. Concerningly, I find all this to be at odds with Council’s organisational values and its policy of community engagement beyond the QVMAG.

LCC’s Representations to State Govt. Re QVMAG
Having received a copy of the written representations Council has made to the State Government on behalf of Launceston’s ratepayers I find that, going by the document, the arguments presented are largely unconvincing and in many cases are arguably based on errors of perception. More could be made of that but there is little point as clearly a stronger case needs to be mounted if State Govt. funding is to be be secured even at the present level. My experience tells me that even that outcome is likely to be very difficult to achieve and I have written separately to the GM expressing these concerns. This prospect does not appear to be on anyone’s agenda and that is a concern given all that Launcestonians and so many benefactors have contributed/invested in the institution and its collections.

The Advice LCC is Privileging Re QVMAG
The MGAB received a copy of the most recent MMC-Link report. This document and its merits or otherwise are undiscussable on the grounds that:

  1. The brief to which it responds is absent and consequently its purpose is opaque plus far from being readable, clear and unambiguous to the reader – and arguably any reader;
  2. The expertise and qualifications that have been brought to bear in regard to the task at hand is not articulated;
  3. Any evidence for the assertions the report makes are not presented. Indeed nothing useful is disclosed, unless of course one believes that a computer program/model is an/the expert!
  4. No actions are indicated as a result of the report;
  5. No conclusions are drawn nor recommendations made and supported by clear evidence; and
all these points are easily made and are comprehensible to anyone reading the report. Given the cost of the report this is more than concerning!

I put it to you that a more credible, and more inclusive effort, needs to be made. Moreover, it needs to be based upon consultation and collaborative domain knowledge and the sooner the better.

Section 65 Local Govt. Act
As a consequence of the above, questions arise out of all this:

  • Of what value is this report, or indeed any of the MMC-Link Report relevant to QVMAG?
  • Upon what evidence of what expertise, qualified advice and domain knowledge was the report commissioned?
  • Upon what expertise and domain knowledge is Council relying upon, or able to rely upon, in regard to the QVMAG and the expenditure of $4million plus of ratepayer funds plus the additional tax payer funds spent recurrently?
  • Is this cluster of reporting and consultancies indicative of the quality and veracity of the expertise Councils relies upon and has relied upon generally?

Apart from that, there's not much to be said about the current MMC-Link report except to say that far too much of it is inaccessible to Aldermen (about 60%) while the rest makes a number of claims without producing any evidence to support them. As a ratepayer I find all this somewhat distressing in that significant sums of money drawn from our rates are being expended upon projects that deliver such poor outcomes. I would appreciate your comments on this.

The GM has drawn his role in regard to Section 65 of the Local Govt. Act to my attention. I now ask, consistent with the Act, upon whose expertise, or what qualifications and domain knowledge, does he, and thus Council, rely upon in regard to consultancies in general and the most recent reports relevant to QVMAG and other matters?

Furthermore, upon what advice do Aldermen rely to ensure that aldermen are best placed to fulfil their policy determining and decision making roles and at the same time be truly accountable to their constituency?

I should advise you that I have written to the GM seeking similar advice to that which I’m now seeking from you independently. I see these matters as being important and worthy of urgent attention. Therefore, I look forward to your early advice on these issues. I also trust that you are able to assure me, and ratepayers generally, that Council, on the evidence, is indeed committed to:

  • Conducting itself accountably in accord with the Act;
  • Conducting itself ethically and equitably;  and
  • Conducting itself  in close accord with its own organisational values and its community engagement policy.

Regards,

Ray

Ray Norman
<zingHOUSEunlimited>
The lifestyle design enterprise and research network

PH: 03-6334 2176
EMAIL 1: raynorman@eftel.net.au
EMAIL 2: ray@7250.net
40 Delamere Crescent Trevallyn TAS. 7250
WEBsite: http://www.raynorman7250.blogspot.com
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Named Australia's most family friendly city by Suncorp 2013.
Named Tasmania's top eTown by Google 2013.
Home to Harvest Launceston, named Australia's Best Harvest Market by ABC Delicious magazine 2013.
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------ End of Forwarded Message

FROM Mayor: Notice of Special Meeting of MGAB ... Tue, 1 Jul 2014 09:51:32 +0000

------ Forwarded Message
From: Mayor <Mayor@launceston.tas.gov.au>
Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2014 09:51:32 +0000
To: Ray Norman <raynorman@eftel.net.au>
Subject: Re: Notice of Special Meeting of the Museum Governance Advisory
Board

Hi Ray,

I will follow up with Richard and Neil.

Regards
Albert

On 1 Jul 2014, at 5:08 pm, "Ray Norman"
<raynorman@eftel.net.au<mailto:raynorman@eftel.net.au>> wrote:

CONFIDENTIAL

Dear Albert,

In relation to Mr Mulvaney's Board Motion and Notice of 1 July 2014, no
evidence whatsover is presented to support the allegations made against me
and reportedly made by Mr McKinnon. Furthermore, it appears as if I am being
denied due process and natural justice.

As it stands, it appears that I am effectively being defamed (in writing)
on the basis of allegations claimed by Mr McKinnon to have been made to him
by the General Manager.

The defamation of my good name to the members of the Board has been carried
out by Mr Mulvaney and distributed to various people (e.g. the MGAB) without
being marked as confidential by the QVMAG¹s Director Mr Mulvaney who has
sent out the notice.

In brief, I have been accused it appears, by the General Manager (apparently
according to Mr McKinnon), of 'quoting privileged information' and therefore
of being untrustworthy as an MGAB board member. No evidence of any type has
been supplied to me to support this damaging allegation. For my part, I am
confident that any 'privileged information' has only been circulated by me
to existing Council staff or Aldermen, and marked 'confidential' when
appropriate.

The time to raise such a concern would have been at the time it occurred so
that I could adjust my behaviour accordingly. No such interaction occurred,
neither has any evidence been presented to support the supposed 'quoting'.

In effect, Mr McKinnon¹s response as the MGAB chairman to various critical
questions about board policy and practices, museum governance and management
has been to defame me, in writing, and to circulate defamatory concerns
about me in an open letter that is not marked 'confidential' in any way
(although that flaw may have been created by Mr Mulvaney). Whether the
General manager of Council participated in, or precipitated these defamatory
statements is not known as all materials and charges have been made through
Mr Mulvaney and apparently by Mr McKinnon.

Such defamation is illegal in Australia and can carry onerous penalties.

I therefore request that you consider this matter very carefully and seek
firm assurances from Mr McKinnon and Mr Mulvaney that they will:

1) Retract in writing the unsupported allegations and defamations against me
and copy that retraction to all who have received a copy of Mr Mulvaney's
defamatory correspondence on behalf of Mr McKinnon or who may have been
exposed to these claims

OR

2) Present incontrovertible evidence of the charges being made against me
for my consideration and action

I look forward to your early action on this matter.

Regards,

Ray Norman

Ray Norman
<zingHOUSEunlimited>
The lifestyle design enterprise and research network
<image.png>
PH: 03-6334 2176
EMAIL 1: raynorman@eftel.net.au<mailto:raynorman@eftel.net.au>
EMAIL 2: ray@7250.net<mailto:ray@7250.net>
40 Delamere Crescent Trevallyn TAS. 7250
WEBsite: http://www.raynorman7250.blogspot.com
NOTICE: this message, and any attachments, may contain privileged and
confidential information intended for
the exclusive use of the addressee named above. If you are not the intended
recipient of this message you must not
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received this message in error,
please immediately notify the sender at the above address and delete all
copies of the message
The information in this email is absolutely confidential and
commercial-in-confidence
protocols apply to that information that may have a commercial application.

Furthermore, the intellectual property rights of the author(s) apply in
accord with Australian Copyright and Moral Rights Laws.

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ter.com/LtonCityCouncil>
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LAUNCESTON
Named Australia's most family friendly city by Suncorp 2013.
Named Tasmania's top eTown by Google 2013.
Home to Harvest Launceston, named Australia's Best Harvest Market by ABC
Delicious magazine 2013.
Home to City Park, named in Australia's top ten parks by TripAdvisor 2013.
Keep Australia Beautiful - Community Action and Partnerships 2013
Tasmanian Tourism Award - Visitor Information and Services 2013
LGAT General Excellence Award - State of the Art Launceston Visitor
Information Centre 2013

Please consider the environment before printing this, or any other e-mail or
document.

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CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER

Information in this transmission is intended only for the person(s) to whom
it is addressed and may contain privileged and/or confidential information.
If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying or
dissemination of the information is unauthorised and you should
delete/destroy all copies and notify the sender. No liability is accepted
for any unauthorised use of the information contained in this transmission.

This disclaimer has been automatically added.

------ End of Forwarded Message

FROM Mayor: Notice of Special Meeting REQUEST FOR INTEVENTION ... Thu, 3 Jul 2014 06:48:42 +0000

For The Record
Forwarded Message
From: Mayor <Mayor@launceston.tas.gov.au>
Date: Thu, 3 Jul 2014 06:48:42 +0000
To: Ray Norman <raynorman@eftel.net.au>
Subject: RE: Notice of Special Meeting of the Museum Governance Advisory Board

Hi Ray

Thank you for your emails regarding the proposal for a Special Meeting of the Museum Governance Advisory Group (MGAB) to be held on 14 July where a Notice of Motion from the Chairman Mr Neil McKinnon will be discussed. I note your claims and concerns that you consider you are being defamed by this process.

As you are aware through your position as a member of the Museum Governance Advisory Board, the Board has an advisory function to the Council on matters falling within its remit. The Board does not have specific authority to determine on matters other than generally procedural issues.

Mr McKinnon has the prerogative to call a Special Meeting of the MGAB as Chairman. He also has a right, equal to other members of MGAB, to put forward a Notice of Motion for consideration by the meeting as it sees fit.

Any member of MGAB, including yourself, has the right to attend the Special Meeting and discuss the Notice of Motion as part of the debate. The members of MGAB will ultimately make a decision on the Notice of Motion.

I would expect that the matter would be dealt with in closed session.

As Mayor of the Council I have no specific authority or obligation to intervene in or influence the activities of a legally constituted Committee which reports and is accountable to the elected Council.

You are of course free to take what advice you see fit in regard to the Special Meeting and the Notice of Motion. There is an obligation on members of Council Committees to ensure that any Notice of Motion that is defamatory is not accepted.

Kind regards

Albert van Zetten I
Mayor I Launceston City Council
T 03 6323 3101 I F 03 6323 3125 I
www.launceston.tas.gov.au <http://www.launceston.tas.gov.au/>



From: Ray Norman [mailto:raynorman@eftel.net.au]
Sent: Wednesday, 2 July 2014 5:14 PM
To: Mayor
Subject: FW: Notice of Special Meeting of the Museum Governance Advisory Board

CONFIDENTIAL

Dear Albert,

I have received an email from Neil McKinnon and he seems bent on proceeding without concern for due process and procedural fairness let alone natural justice. Please see below,  and the attached, for that which I rely upon in concert natural justice and procedural fairness in relation to the concerns I have drawn to your attention.

    I am looking for an equitable resolution that does not adversely impact upon the QVMAG. Given that, I look forward to your advice as how you intend to proceed.

    Regards,

    Ray
    Ray Norman
    <zingHOUSEunlimited>
    The lifestyle design enterprise and research network

    PH: 03-6334 2176
    EMAIL 1: raynorman@eftel.net.au
    EMAIL 2: ray@7250.net
    40 Delamere Crescent Trevallyn TAS. 7250
    WEBsite: http://www.raynorman7250.blogspot.com
    NOTICE: this message, and any attachments, may contain privileged and confidential information intended for
    the exclusive use of the addressee named above. If you are not the intended recipient of this message you must not
    disseminate, copy or take any action in relation to the message. If you have received this message in error,
    please immediately notify the sender at the above address and delete all copies of the message
    The information in this email is absolutely confidential and commercial-in-confidence
     protocols apply to that information that may have a commercial application.

    Furthermore, the intellectual property rights of the author(s) apply in accord with Australian Copyright and Moral Rights Laws. 


------ End of Forwarded Message

FROM Sandra Campbell: RE: Special Meeting of MGAB ... Thu, 10 Jul 2014 15:02:10 +1000

NOTE: This same letter sent individually to all current MGAB members and this response is the only one received to date & receive on the day sent

Forwarded Message
From: sandra campbell <sandbags@activ8.net.au>
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 15:02:10 +1000
To: Ray Norman <raynorman@eftel.net.au>
Subject: Re: Special Meeting of the Museum Governance Advisory Board

   I acknowledge your letter thank you Ray.
 All the best
 Sandra

On 10-Jul-14 2:44 PM, Ray Norman wrote:


Special Meeting of the Museum Governance Advisory Board
PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL


 
Dear Sandra,

 RE: Special Meeting of the Museum Governance Advisory Board

On July 9 each year Australia celebrates Constitution Day. As a part of this year’s celebration Alec Coles, CEO, Western Australian Museum, talked about taking A tiger by the tail?” and he promoted musingplaces (my word) as platforms for “Freedom of Speech”. Every now and then celebration of one these anniversaries sparks an enlightening discourse. As Coles says, “it is not uncommon for Museums to be described as safe places for unsafe ideas. It is a phrase perhaps not coined, but certainly reinforced here in Sydney by Dr Fiona Cameron, a research fellow at the University of Western Sydney, in her paper: Safe Places for unsafe ideas? History and science museums, hot topics and moral predicaments.”

So here is a contentious idea worth considering ... a “kangaroo court is a judicial tribunal or assembly that blatantly disregards recognized standards of law or justice, and often carries little or no official standing in the territory within which it resides. Merriam-Webster defines it as "a mock court in which the principles of law and justice are disregarded or perverted" ... A kangaroo court is often held by a group or a community to give the appearance of a fair and just trial, even though the verdict has in reality already been decided before the trial has begun. Such courts typically take place in rural areas where legitimate law enforcement may be limited. The term may also apply to a court held by a legitimate judicial authority who intentionally disregards the court's legal or ethical obligations”
Read more here <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kangaroo_court> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kangaroo_court%3E>

The motion to be put before the proposed meeting on Monday, quite apart from being unconscionable, it is defamatory. Moreover, the proposed meeting promises to represent all the hallmarks of a Kangaroo Court and especially so in regard to the blatant disregard for standards.

 The motion fails so many tests that in the end it is extraordinary evidence of the lengths than can be gone to, and the depths that can be plumbed, to maintain the status quo for whatever reason.

 What tests does both the meeting, and the motion before it, fail?

  • Natural justice: At no point has the substantive matter, or any evidence of it,  been disclosed to me. Rather I have been subjected to accusations that I believe lack substance and veracity. If  evidence exists where is it? Why have I not seen it?
  • Fair Dealing: Consequent to the above I have not been given any opportunity to consider or counter any evidence, if it exists, in order to ensure that I, and the matter, can be dealt with fairly;
  • Due Process: Consequent to the above any semblance of due process or procedural fairness is not present.


Furthermore, given that this whole matter goes on under the aegis of Launceston City Council the issue of Council policies arises.
    Declaration of Interests.
     
    I believe that it is well understood by MGAB members the MGAB Chairman and others that I have a declared interest, not a conflict of interests, not a pecuniary interest, but a research interest , in the QVMAG, and indeed all musingplaces, from the perspective of testing the concept of ‘Community of Ownership & Interest’ (COI) and applying them successfully to our museum. Indeed, I have provided the General Manager with a COI definition at his request.
     

    Consequent to my research interests, I intend to interrogate and test the substance of Local Government’s legislative paradigm: internal governance and management models; policy making procedures; protocols and values; in the context of the ‘concept of COI’  having implications for musingplaces. And, especially so in ways that are consistent with the thesis that museums should indeed be safe places within which to interrogate unsafe ideas.

     Research ethics demand that I inform those touched by my research.  I do this again here so as there can be no confusion in regard to my intentions and purpose in the context of the actions I intend taking.

    I will not lend any credibility at all to the meeting by attending. Furthermore, it seems to me to be an extraordinarily dangerous exercise to be engaged with. Consequently, I have decided to offer my conditional resignation to the Acting Mayor and Aldermen and no doubt a copy of my letter of resignation will be provided for you at or before the meeting.

     Regards,

     Ray
       
      Ray Norman
       
      <zingHOUSEunlimited>
       
      The lifestyle design enterprise and research network

      PH: 03-6334 2176
       
      EMAIL 1: raynorman@eftel.net.au
       
      EMAIL 2: ray@7250.net
       
      40 Delamere Crescent Trevallyn TAS. 7250
       
      Resume: http://www.raynorman7250.blogspot.com
       
      NOTICE: this message, and any attachments, may contain privileged and confidential information intended for
       the exclusive use of the addressee named above. If you are not the intended recipient of this message you must not
       disseminate, copy or take any action in relation to the message. If you have received this message in error,
       please immediately notify the sender at the above address and delete all copies of the message
       The information in this email is absolutely confidential and commercial-in-confidence
        protocols apply to that information that may have a commercial application.

       Furthermore, the intellectual property rights of the author(s) apply in accord with Australian Copyright and Moral Rights Laws.


      No virus found in this message.
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------ End of Forwarded Message