Former Mt Remarkable District Councillor Vicki Morley speaks out about workplace dispute
A former councillor fears a workplace dispute engulfing a tiny country council will leave ratepayers with a $2 million bill because it mishandled an investigation into its chief executive.
Upper Spencer Gulf
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A former councillor who quit in protest over her council’s handling of bullying allegations against its chief executive fears ratepayers have been unfairly exposed to a potential $2 million legal bill.
Retired Wirrabara shopkeeper Vicki Morley walked out of a Mt Remarkable District Council special meeting in February when a human resources consultant told elected members he had been investigating complaints from staff about its boss, Wayne Hart.
Mrs Morley, 67, has told The Advertiser she objected to the presence of the consultant, Robert Wallace, as he had been engaged without the knowledge of councillors by Mayor Phillip Heaslip. Mrs Morley said the council did not follow its procurement procedures before paying Mr Wallace to conduct a preliminary investigation.
Mrs Morley said under the procedures, the council had to obtain three quotes before it could engage consultants or other professionals.
“Instead, we were called to a meeting where the Mayor said he was bringing in Robert Wallace to investigate Wayne Hart,” she said. “I said we needed three quotes which had to go before the council. The Mayor just looked at me, went out and brought Robert Wallace into the room.
“He told us he had been investigating Wayne for a while and had spoken to eight former employees and he felt there was sufficient evidence there was bullying going on.
“I stood up and said it wasn’t right that Wayne was on annual leave and wasn’t there to defend himself and that what he and the Mayor were doing was completely wrong,” she said. “They just kept going with the meeting ... I was really angry so I walked out. It just wasn’t fair.”
Mrs Morley said she resigned from the council three days later, with nominations opening last week for a postal by-election to replace her. Mr Hart, his former deputy Jessie White, the council’s works manager John Hadley, and executive administrator Catherine Battersby since have left the council, with newly created positions advertised last weekend by acting chief executive Sam Johnson, the former Port Augusta mayor.
Mr Hart, Ms White and Mr Hadley have launched legal action in the SA Employment Tribunal, with their lawyer, Greg Griffin, estimating the council could face a total legal bill exceeding $2 million.
Mrs Morley said she believed the trio had a strong case because of the way the council had handled the issue.
“I want people to know this is going to cost ratepayers a lot of money because it was done so badly,” she said.
The council would not comment on legal advice.