Jack Russell. Photo: Ash Long ­©

Murrindindi Shire Council has banned Jack Russell, of Yea, from its meetings for three months.

The ban, notified in a letter delivered by hand to Mr Russell last Friday (Oct. 4), follows his exclusion during the September 25 Council meeting at Yea.

Mr Russell had been previously banned from Council meetings after an incident at the Yea Library in early 2016.

The ban had been lifted by Shire CEO Craig Lloyd.

Mr Russell has initiated a number of law suits against the Council.

After a Magistrates’ Court case, a County Court appeal found a number of charges proven after the Yea Library incident. Mr Russell took the matter to the Supreme Court.

Mr Russell has since taken a separate Court action against the Council and its CEO Mr Lloyd.

Mr Russell has been given until November 4 to file an amended claim in that action. A pro bono lawyer has been appointed for him to continue the case.

Mr Russell claims that the bans have aggravated a mental disability that he suffers, and that the latest ban aggravates what is an already substantial psychiatric problem.

At last month’s Council meeting, Mr Russell was given a warning about his conduct by Mayor Cr Sandice McAulay.

Cr Charlie Bisset moved for his exclusion from the meeting. It was alleged that Mr Russell took on a “tone” in his oral presentation to the meeting.

Mr Russell says the audio recording of the meeting, available at the Council website, proves that he did not change his vocal tone towards Councillors.

“It was just a statement of fact,” Mr Russell said.

Mr Russell says the new ban provides an added trigger towards his mental ill-health.

Council sources say that the legal actions initiated by Mr Russell have brought legal fees around $100,000.

These fees have had to be funded from rates collected from local residents.