Tea Tree Gully Council Mayor Kevin Knight ‘devastated’ by complaint from council staff member

A code of conduct complaint has been lodged against Tea Tree Gully Mayor Kevin Knight, who says he will now not attend the council’s Christmas party because of the stress.

A complaint has been made against Tea Tree Gully Council Mayor Kevin Knight. Picture: File

• Kevin Knight rejects findings he broke code of conduct nine times
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A Tea Tree Gully Council staff member has lodged a code of conduct complaint against Mayor Kevin Knight.

The Messenger understands Mr Knight, who has been the mayor since 2014, was planning to address elected members at a council workshop on Tuesday night about the complaint however decided not to following legal advice.

In an email sent to councillors on Sunday and sighted by The Messenger, Mr Knight said the address would have related to a “very sensitive and confidential matter” and that staff would have been asked to leave the meeting.

It is understood the code of conduct complaint relates to an alleged incident that occurred between Mr Knight and a female staff member on October 2.

“Whatever the outcome of the issue I am dealing with it has had a devastating effect on both of us (Mr Knight and his wife) and at the moment it is best I avoid situations that could cause me stress,” Mr Knight, who has been on Tea Tree Gully Council since 1994, wrote.

In a further email sent to elected members on Monday, he said the issue had taken a “heavy toll” on him.

“I also have to consider the effect of complaints like this on my family,” he wrote.

“While under our code these issues need to be kept confidential I am sure some of you will soon find out a bit more about this complaint.”

He said he would call on people to provide character references as part of the investigation.

Following questions from The Messenger, Mr Knight confirmed he had emailed elected members “regarding several issues that I am dealing with”.

“I do this reasonably regularly to keep them informed and up to date,” Mr Knight said.

“I will confirm that I have advised my elected members well in advance that I will be unable to attend the scheduled Christmas function for personal reasons.”

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The latest complaint comes just months after Mr Knight was found to have breached the council’s code of conduct nine times for shouting at a councillor, calling him a “bloody idiot” and threatening to report him to ICAC, at two council meetings last year.

The council agreed to not take further action against Mr Knight for his conduct at the meetings, with some councillors agreeing that investigation was flawed.

A Tea Tree Gully Council spokeswoman would neither confirm or deny a complaint against Mr Knight had been lodged, saying the process must remain confidential until it is completed.