Grant Mayor Richard Sage under fire for ‘derogatory’ comment to councillor about her husband’s job

An SA mayor has refused to apologise for a “derogatory” comment to a fellow councillor about her husband’s toilet-cleaning job.

A country South Australia mayor has refused to apologise for a “derogatory” remark made during a council meeting that led to an councillor walkout.

Grant Council Mayor Richard Sage is under fire for comments about councillor Shirley Little’s husband Don and his employment cleaning council toilets.

At the previous meeting, councillors unanimously voted he apologise on Monday.

Mr Sage, who earlier this year was found to have committed misconduct by failing to declare and appropriately deal with a conflict of interest, refused.

District Council of Grant Mayor Richard Sage. Picture: Jessica Ball

Ms Little and others attempted to address the matter but the Mayor said it was not up for debate, leading the Tarpeena representative to leave the meeting.

Councillors Kylie Boston, Gillian Clayfield and Megan Dukalskis also stormed out.

“We couldn’t say anything about the fact that the Mayor had refused to apologise,” Cr Clayfield said after the meeting.

“But when Shirley was upset and left the chamber, we felt that we should leave in support of her.”

With the elected members absent, council was left without a quorum and unable to discuss the contentious issue of Green Point Beach access.

After almost half an hour councillors Boston, Clayfield and Dukalskis returned, but only because “people had given up their time” to attend the meeting.

“We won’t tolerate your behaviour,” Cr Clayfield told Mr Sage.

Grant Mayor Richard Sage walking into the council meeting ahead of his a public apology after the SA Ombudsman found he committed misconduct. Picture: Jessica Ball

Cr Little did not return to the chamber and on Tuesday said she was disappointed the Mayor had not apologised personally.

“All he had to do was make an apology to my family,” she said. “I wasn’t even part of the original question that was asked.”

The instigating comment arose when Mayor Sage was questioned about his possible conflict of interest when advocating for TafeSA where his wife works.

He said 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 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?”

However, both councillors Little and Clayfield emphasised it was not just his words that were hurtful but the manner in which they were said.

“I think that when you say something to someone, it’s their perception of what you’ve said, if they perceive that it was hurtful, then it is hurtful,” Cr Clayfield said.

“I just think that Shirley and her family deserve an apology.”