Burnside councillor Julian Carbone apologises for calling new CEO a ‘head kicker’
Chris Cowley hasn’t started yet in his new role as CEO of the controversial Burnside Council and already a councillor has been forced to apologise for the way he spoke about him on Facebook.
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Burnside councillor Julian Carbone has publicly apologised for calling new chief executive officer Chris Cowley a “head kicker” in two social media posts late last month.
Cr Carbone was made to apologise last week at the council’s latest meeting for use of the term – and prematurely announcing on October 31 that Mr Cowley had been hired before the council released an official statement.
“He is a head kicker and I’m excited by his appointment,” Cr Carbone posted.
Cr Carbone told The Messenger on Monday he meant the term as a “compliment”.
In an email to elected members immediately after the faux pas, Cr Carbone said there was no intended malice in his choice of words.
“The term often refers to someone who ‘gets things done’,” he wrote.
Cr Carbone then told elected members at their meeting he had meant the word “in a positive way”.
“Obviously my interpretation of the term ‘head kicker’ is different to that of others,” he said.
“I did talk to a few people in the communications area (of council) and they advised head kicker is bit more negative than positive.”
He said there was confusion about when the council was going to officially announce Mr Cowley’s position, and he subsequently posted the announcement too early on October 31.
“I do apologise for the timing of the post and the choice of words I used,” Cr Carbone told elected members.
“I did get the timing wrong in the release of information.”
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However, he said Mr Cowley, who is a martial arts expert, did not take offence with the post.
“It doesn’t seem to be an issue at all,” he said.