District Council of Grant head to the ombudsman over Mayor Sage’s code of conduct breaches

A regional council is taking its ‘potty mouth’ mayor to the ombudsman after he refused to apologise for a sledge aimed at a councillor.

A regional council will head to the ombudsman over its mayor’s continued refusal to apologise for “derogatory” comments aimed at a councillor’s husband, who works as a cleaner.

District Council of Grant Mayor Richard Sage was investigated by the governance panel after he made comments about Councillor Shirley Little’s husband cleaning council toilets.

An independent report from a governance panel found Mayor Sage had breached the code of conduct four times out of eight complaints.

In October last year, following the toilet-cleaning comments, councillors unanimously voted to demand the mayor apologise.

Mayor Sage refused to do so, leading to a mass walkout from the elected body.

District Council of Grant Mayor Richard Sage walking into the council meeting. Picture: Jessica Ball

Cr Little called for stronger action against the mayor, who continues to refuse to apologise nine months on.

“The recommendation is that — in respect to the breaches — Mayor Sage apologise to council,” she said.

“It’s just like drawing a line under it and it’s all forgotten.”

Cr Little said she wanted a personal apology to her and her family and advocated for the matter to be referred to the ombudsman.

“It’s been nine months, this has been in my house and my family for nine months,” she said.

Mr Sage was also found to have breached the code following comments he made to Cr Gill Clayfield relating to her receipt of an allowance during a period of leave from council.

Mayor Richard Sage (right) and Cr Shirley Little (left) are at the centre of the stoush. Artwork: Arj Ganesan

Other councillors spoke up in support of Cr Little who said the mayor needed to apologise not only to council, but to Cr Little, her family and Cr Clayfield.

Mayor Sage, was previously found to have committed misconduct by failing to declare and appropriately deal with a conflict of interest.

In December a vote of no confidence was passed with a gag order placed over the mayor.

Council passed a motion detailing Mayor Sage had until August 15 to issue his apology and would escalate the matter to the Ombudsman.

Previously Mayor Sage defended himself saying he used Cr Little’s husband as “an example” but did not intend disrespect, saying he once cleaned toilets for a living too.

“Her husband cleans the toilets for the council at Tarpeena, so he’s an employee and she’s going to have a conflict of interest at times,” he previously said.

“I’m sorry that her feelings are hurt. But in actual fact he’s an employee of council so what have I said that’s degrading or derogatory in that statement?”

The District Council of Grant and Cr Clayfield declined to comment.

Mayor Sage and Cr Little were contacted for further comment.