Embattled Tea Tree Gully Mayor Kevin Knight to temporarily step down from all public duties
Mayor Kevin Knight has issued a statement confirming he will no longer represent the council while investigations into his behaviour continue.
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Embattled Tea Tree Gully Mayor Kevin Knight says he will remove himself from all public duties amid investigations into his behaviour.
The mayor has issued a statement to the council clarifying his role after he agreed to take indefinite leave.
The statement, attached to the agenda for the council’s March 10 meeting, said Mr Knight intended to step down from all duties until further notice.
“I am more than happy to comply with the resolution of council,” it reads.
Elected members had asked the mayor to provide clarity over his future roles and responsibilities during his leave of absence at a special meeting of the council on Tuesday night.
“I will try to clarify any confusion and apologise if I caused it, that was not my intent,” the statement reads.
The statement outlines in detail the public meetings and events Mr Knight will now no longer attend in an official capacity in March and April.
Mr Knight was asked to take leave following a council investigation into an incident on October 2 last year at the Modbury civic centre.
The Advertiser reported today that a report by law firm Norman Waterhouse, commissioned by the council, had found Mr Knight breached the council’s code of conduct when he deliberately struck a female employee on the backside with a rolled-up document.
It recommends the council ask Mr Knight to issue a written apology to the employee.
However, Mr Knight has maintained he used the document in his hand to let the employee know he was there, and not to step back into him.
Mr Knight argued he could not have struck the employee “even gently” because of an injured left arm and shoulder, including a torn muscle, tendinitis and bursitis.
“This was a reflexive defensive action,” he told investigators.
“I have injured my left shoulder and arm, with the consequence that I was sensitive about any contact being made with my left shoulder/arm.”
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Other alleged incidents involving Mr Knight are still being investigated externally.
Mr Knight said if the investigations continued beyond April he would discuss future arrangements with the council.
The mayor will remain on leave until he provides a written notice to Mr Wyld of his intent to return to mayoral duties, or until a further resolution is presented to the council.
However, he will continue to attend Local Government Association meetings in his role as a board member.
Mr Wyld told the special council meeting that asking the mayor to clarify his leave of absence was a “sensible course of action”.
“We do need clarity and certainty,” Mr Wyld said.
“We need written confirmation of his intentions. We need something firm from him.”
The council’s acting chief executive officer, Thornton Harfield, told councillors on Tuesday night Mr Knight “remains the mayor” but he was taking leave.