Ex-Kangaroo Island Council chief executive Andrew Boardman blasts critics, explains why he was sacked from his $225,000 job
A former council boss has revealed why he was sacked from his $225,000 post and hit out at “constant attacks” on his integrity.
A former council boss has revealed why he was sacked from his $225,000-a-year post and hit out at a “minority” who he says had a mission to attack him at “any opportunity”.
Andrew Boardman, who Kangaroo Island Council fired as chief executive in February for ‘wilful misconduct’, has told The Advertiser he has been diagnosed with a mental injury caused by the stress of “constant attacks” during his seven-and-a-half year term at the helm of the authority.
He also questioned the conduct of an Ombudsman’s investigation which concluded this week that Mr Boardman had committed maladministration by claiming and accepting $57,100 in unlawful overtime payments.
Breaking his silence over his sacking, Mr Boardman said his dismissal followed his suspension in mid-January 2019 during an independent investigation into matters “prompted” by the Ombudsman’s provisional report into his conduct.
He said among “harsh conditions” of the suspension was that he could only contact the acting chief executive.
“On this island, this effectively totally isolated me from my friends, colleagues and pretty much everyone,” he said.
He said he was told he would be afforded procedural fairness and the “opportunity” to respond to concerns raised during the independent investigation.
But he said when he heard that the report was to be presented to a council subcommittee he breached his suspension by emailing staff members believing the report would be completed without his input.
“On the following day I sent the same information by direct email to the council subcommittee (also technically a breach of the conditions of suspension),” he said, adding he was yet to see the investigator’s final report.
He said the breach was raised at a council meeting, which later led to the council advising him he would be fired unless he could provide a reason to the contrary.
“I accepted that I had breached the conditions in the act of sending the email; that this was completely out of character for me and driven by the emotional and mental turmoil I was suffering as a result of having no support, communication or contact with anyone for a long period of time,” he said.
He defended his record as chief executive, while criticising a “minority” in the community who were opposed to change. He said some had “made it their mission to denigrate and attack at any opportunity”.
Mr Boardman said SA Ombudsman Wayne Lines based his maladministration findings on a report provided by an officer who spoke to himself and ex-mayor Peter Clements and “no-one else”.
“I am still at a loss to understand why he would not question the mayor and councillors involved,” he said.
Mr Clements, who was defeated at the November council elections, was also found guilty of maladministration by approving payments to Mr Boardman.