CONCERNS grow as the Senior Citizen Centre fail to reinstate two suspended members after a table tennis dispute several months ago.
The members were suspended after an altercation arose between members of the table tennis club in March.
Former centre board chairman Rob Griffiths told the Mail earlier this year the four members were suspended for causing “nothing but trouble”.
The argument then led to the elected council representative Jenny Green being given the boot from the board after a vote of no confidence in May.
Last month Deputy Mayor Grant Henley met with some of the centre’s board members to keep Cr Green on the board and reinstate the suspended members.
Deputy Mayor Henley said representatives from the Senior Citizen Centre board agreed the process had not been fair and all of the members would be reinstated.
Cr Green was welcomed back by the new board chairman Tony Eagles but she was concerned the reinstatement of two suspended members had not been resolved.
“Although two members have been reinstated with a formal written apology, two members are still awaiting their correspondence advising them of their reinstatement,” she said.
One of the suspended members, Paul Mainwaring has paid his membership fee for the year and had not been able to use the centre since his suspension in April.
“I really enjoy attending the centre as it is a great way to socialise with my friends,” Mr Mainwaring said.
“I care for an elderly lady and occasionally attend the centre for lunch but at the moment I’m not even allowed in as a visitor.
“I don’t understand why I haven’t been invited back like the other members.”
Mr Mainwaring said he received an invitation from the former board chairman and centre manager Bruce Thiel asking him to attend an interview for reinstatement.
Cr Green said she was apprehensive about the approach to reinstatement had not been consistently administered by the centre manager.
“As a board member, I will seek clarification from the chair as to why the reinstatement of the other two members is conditional on them attending a board committee meeting.”
Cr Green hoped this matter would be resolved and everyone could get on with enjoying the amenities of the centre.
The Senior Citizens Centre refused to comment.
