I am happy to provide Ms Norton (Letter to Editor July 16) with more information regarding her “sarcastic comment” made to me at a meeting in relation to seeking assistance to explore the possibilities of building a multi-purpose community hall for Yass.

Unfortunately, Ms Norton viewed me as an opponent of the Park & Ride debacle instead of a concerned community member exploring possibilities to enhance our community and education facilities. 

Ms Norton’s comment that she “barely recalls my negligible contribution to that meeting” shows, by her own admission that she is a very poor listener and a most unsuitable “point of contact” for dealing with the public.  For this alone she should resign.

Ms Norton states there has been “no attempt” to raise this issue “until now”.  Untrue, her comments were raised by me in writing, to the mayor and councillor Jasmin Jones immediately after I “accidentally” became aware in June that I “didn’t lose over $250,000 for Yass”.

Had I known, what the general manager had known, back in February, that the money was “not entirely off the table”, I would have written earlier. 

Councillor Jones forwarded my concerns to the general manager for a response, which I am still yet to receive. 

To this day, there has been absolutely no correspondence or feedback whatsoever from Ms Norton regarding our meeting in March, despite promising the principal of Yass High School otherwise.

I find Ms Norton’s comments “if you have an issue with someone, you take it up with them” and “courage to face people directly” totally dishonest and misleading.  I asked Ms Norton to repeat her “unprofessional” comments immediately after she made them at our meeting. 

Ms Norton deliberately ignored my request to “repeat her remarks” despite me asking her politely to do so - twice!  A situation witnessed not only by myself.

The position occupied by Ms Norton at Council demands someone who is approachable, someone with excellent people skills and someone with excellent communication skills. A person who represents the best of what Council has to offer.

Gilllian Bucknell,

Yass