HURSTVILLE mayor Vince Badalati says he is determined to steer the council in a more positive direction, away from the anger and animosity which marked a large part of Con Hindi's term.
But already there are rumblings that nothing but intervention by the Office of Local Government will clear the decks sufficiently for a new beginning.
Cr Badalati, a retired accountant, was elected Hurstville mayor for the seventh time during his 16 years as councillor at an extraordinary council meeting last Wednesday.
He said he would start working on moving councillors away from divisive influences and point out to various people the errors of their ways.
"All councillors have to respect each other and stop bickering and concentrate on what we are there for — that is to serve the community," Cr Badalati said.
"Everyone will have to behave themselves. At every meeting we will concentrate on delivering services and providing extra facilities."
Cr Badalati said during the next 12 months the council would continue with significant capital works projects, renewing assets alongside prudent financial management.
"The Hurstville local government area is undergoing a great transformation with many key projects now under way including the Forest Road streetscape project stage one, and I am delighted to serve the Hurstville community," he said.
Along with improving Forest Road, Cr Badalati hoped to push along the civic centre precinct to its next stage, finalise the Penshurst Park master plan, complete the Mortdale community centre and do something about the Oatley Bowling Club site.
"Being mayor at this time also has an additional focus as local government issues are of critical importance, which include [the] possibility of amalgamations across NSW councils," he said.
Cr Badalati (Labor) was elected by nine votes to two, with Philip Sansom, an independent and also a former mayor, getting one vote.
The deputy mayor is Dominic Sin (Labor).
The fact that all Liberal councillors supported Cr Badalati drew a comment that councillors Hindi and Badalati were "very close" and that despite having a new mayor, the power block dynamics remained the same.
"It's business as usual," someone said.
It was also pointed out that Labor Party rules require all Labor councillors to "bind" and vote for the endorsed Labor candidate for mayor, regardless of any private opposition to Cr Badalati.
There are five Labor councillors, three Liberals, one Unity party who is usually counted as a Liberal, and two independents. Council's 12th member, Jack Jacovou, a Liberal, recently resigned.
Some in the minority block claim they have already been marginalised and hope for change in the council's make-up after an Office of Local Government investigation.
