Cr Mark Riley has been elected Mayor of Moreland City Council for 2021-22.
Cr Riley delivered his acceptance speech draped in the Rainbow flag, declaring that he was "proud to be standing here as the first out queer Mayor of Moreland."
In his speech, Cr Riley said it was a great honour and responsibility to be elected Mayor.
"I'd like to serve the people of Moreland with passion, pride and integrity," he said.
"There's no doubt Moreland is a great place to live, work and play but we know there is also work to be done. I know this term of Councillors are up to the challenge and I look forward to working with each of you, and council staff and the community to make Moreland an even better city."
Cr Riley said that Covid 19 is one of the biggest challenges we've faced as a community, but with vaccination, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
"As a council we'll continue to provide frontline community support for those who need it as well as supporting the important vaccination efforts across Moreland so that the services we're responsible for continue to be delivered and are strengthened."
Cr Riley committed Council to continuing to lead on addressing the climate emergency, citing it as a critical priority.
"A warming planet is a risk for everything we hold dear here at Moreland; our environment, our health, our wellbeing and our vibrant local economy.
"We need to continue to work with the entire community to respond and adapt to climate change. And this includes working with our state and federal governments, putting in place policies for Australia to transition to zero carbon future," said Cr Riley.
Cr Riley outlined how Council would work towards sets goals over the coming 12 months, as set out in the new four-year Council Plan.
He said the five themes - an environmentally proactive Moreland, moving and living safely in Moreland, a healthy and caring Moreland, vibrant spaces and places in Moreland and an empowered and collaborative Moreland – along with the Community Vision, developed by the community as part of the Imagine Moreland project, would guide Council.
Cr Riley is in his second term as a Moreland Councillor, after first being elected to Moreland Council in 2016.
Councillor Lambros Tapinos was elected Deputy Mayor for the next 12 months. Both Cr Riley and Cr Tapinos were elected unopposed.
