Cr McClenaghan told last week's Glenlyon Progress Association meeting that he could only speak to the council's four general managers, chief executive officer Kaylene

Conrick and "two women in the CEO's office".

Cr McClenaghan also said, when asked for information on the village's historic elms and oaks, that he could not get involved in any operational matters and had absolutely

no input into the daily workings of the council.

Late last week, Cr McClenaghan sought to clarify his comments saying that many people in the community still believed that "councils work the same as they did 30 years

ago".

"(They think) if you want a road fixed or there's a problem with the rubbish collection, you go and see your elected ward councillor who gets the problem sorted out," he

said.

"This is not the case any more and amendments to the Local Government Act have taken operational matters, like roads and rubbish together with direct communication

with staff, further away from a councillor's duties."

Meanwhile, Ms Conrick said questions and queries from councillors, as the elected members of the community, "should and are" given appropriate attention.

"Hepburn Shire Council, like every other council in Victoria, has protocols in place to provide support and clarification to councillors and staff in carrying out their

responsibilities," she said.

"As the (Victorian) Ombudsman has reinforced, it is important to note that councillors have power only when sitting with the whole council in session or when sitting on

a special committee".

Ms Conrick said protocols protected councillors from any perception of improper influence over members of staff.

"Councillors are certainly able to speak to any staff member and many have personal relationships with staff outside the organisation," she said.

"This is not unusual in rural settings."