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Today’s Glen Eira Leader (April 15th)

GLEN Eira ratepayers have forked out almost $4000 to pay a councillor who hasn’t been seen at any meetings since November.

Tucker ward councillor David Feldman has missed five consecutive public council meetings and failed to request a leave of absence for last week’s meeting.

Glen Eira Residents Action Group president Andrew Bunn said Cr Feldman should provide an explanation about his disappearing act to residents.

“Obviously, there are situations where they have family or business commitments,” he said.

“But (five meetings) seems excessive and we really are entitled to know the reasons.”

Cr Feldman chairs the pool steering, audit and finance advisory committees and is council delegate for the Municipal Association of Victoria.

Each councillors is paid a quarterly allowance and received an instalment of $3750 on April 4.

Mayor Steven Tang said: “Councillors Ashmor and Staikos have been working extremely hard for the Tucker Ward.”

“The community will judge all councillors at the next election.”

Tucker Ward councillor Nick Staikos said while there could be personal reasons for Cr Feldman’s absence, as an elected representative he should explain.

“I hope he is well, but the community and the council are owed some sort of an explanation,” Cr Staikos said. He estimated Cr Feldman had missed about 20 council, committee and community meetings.

Glen Eira spokesman Paul Burke said the council had not received official notification of Cr Feldman’s absence.

Cr Feldman said he had been away longer than he anticipated because of “personal and family issues”.