Kangaroo Island chief executive sacked following council investigation

Kangaroo Island Council chief executive Andrew Boardman has been sacked for wilful misconduct, following an independent investigation into a “number of matters”.

Former Kangaroo Island Council CEO Andrew Boardman

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Kangaroo Island Council chief executive Andrew Boardman has been sacked for alleged wilful misconduct after an independent investigation into a “number of matters”.

The council held a special meeting on Tuesday to discuss outcomes of the investigation and terminated Mr Boardman’s contract, which was set to expire in August 2020.

Mayor Michael Pengilly told The Advertiser material had been brought to the council’s attention “from a number of areas and (from) a number of years”.

“We thought the fairest way to go through it was to have someone investigate it independently, which we did,” Mr Pengilly said.

“As a result of a number of things, he was terminated for wilful misconduct.”

The sacking follows several recent council controversies, including a major land deal at American River, bullying and concerns over time-in-lieu payment claims.

Mr Pengilly would not elaborate on the matters which were investigated.

“Council would like to acknowledge and thank Mr Boardman for his service to council and this community over the past seven-and-a-half years,” he said.

Mr Boardman used to oversee the council on the pretty island. Picture: Tom Huntley

During a council meeting last year, Mr Boardman was questioned over $57,581 time-in-lieu payments between May 2015 and December 2017.

A report by Mr Boardman, tabled with the council, stated he had worked on weekends and public holidays — an additional 161 days over that period.

The State Ombudsman, in 2016, also found the council had handled a land deal, involving a stretch of foreshore at American River, unlawfully.

Ombudsman Wayne Lines found the council did not hold public consultation in relation to the use of the land, and did not draw up a land management plan.

However, it did not constitute “maladministration”.

It prompted Mr Pengilly, the then local Liberal MP, to call for the council to be placed into administration and investigated.

Mr Pengilly used parliamentary privilege to accuse Mr Boardman of bullying, saying the council was “ethically bankrupt” and under “tyrannical rule”.

South Australian ICAC Commissioner Bruce Lander and the ombudsman visited the island in 2016, following 26 complaints to the Office of Public Integrity about the council.

Of the complaints, 21 were assessed and required no action and only one was investigated by ICAC as raising a potential issue of corruption — but that was not substantiated.

Mr Boardman took extended leave this year before his sacking, with acting chief executive Greg Georgopoulos to continue in the role until further notice.

Mr Boardman started with the council in 2011 as manager of the works department before being appointed chief executive.

The Advertiser has contacted Mr Boardman for comment.