New Port Pirie mayor found guilty of misconduct over unauthorised recruitment advertisement

The newly-elected mayor of a scandal-plagued regional council has been found guilty of misconduct after he launched a recruitment drive for a new boss two weeks early, an official inquiry has found.

New Port Pirie mayor Leon Stephens in front of his store Boats 'n' Bikes. Picture: Tom Huntley

• Ex-Port Pirie mayor found guilty of misconduct, maladministration
• The mayor, his online lover and two ratepayer-funded foreign trips

The newly-elected mayor of a scandal-plagued regional council has been found guilty of misconduct after he launched a recruitment drive for a new boss two weeks early, an official inquiry has found.

Leon Stephens became Port Pirie Council’s elected leader at last month’s local government election after beating disgraced incumbent John Rohde following a sex scandal.

But at his second meeting as mayor on Wednesday night, the council will reveal details of a secret public sector watchdog investigation against him over the hiring of its new $205,000 a-year chief executive officer.

Former Port Pirie mayor John Rohde

After an 11-month inquiry, the State Ombudsman found Mr Stephens, a small-business owner, guilty of misconduct after finding he wrongly authorised publication of a job advertisement and used his private email on official council business.

Councillors will debate Ombudsman Wayne Lines’ findings and recommendations on Wednesday night, including to reprimand the former deputy mayor for “failing to perform his official functions with reasonable care and diligence”.

They will also vote to overhaul internal practices.

The council was cleared of maladministration — irregular and unauthorised use of public money or substantial mismanagement — after it successfully appealed an adverse draft finding.

Mr Lines ordered the report’s release be delayed until after the recent council poll.

The inquiry was launched in November last year after internal concerns were raised about the process to replace outgoing CEO Andrew Johnson, who was due to quit in May.

Mr Stephens, who chaired a council recruitment panel that included Mr Rohde, wrongly authorised a private firm to publish a job advert two weeks early in October last year, leaving Dr Johnson angry and blindsided. A new CEO Peter Ackland was later hired.

The council paid out Dr Johnson almost $71,000 after he left two months early while a senior manager earned almost $10,000 as acting CEO.

In his 23-page report, published in a council agenda, Mr Lines criticised it for not withdrawing the advert, or delaying the hiring process, over fears of “reputational damage”.

His secret inquiry, triggered by a referral from the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption, Bruce Lander QC, was one of three to embroil Port Pirie this year.

He last month found Mr Rohde guilty of misconduct and maladministration over ratepayer-funded trade missions to the Philippines to visit an online girlfriend. He also failed to identify The Advertiser’s sources.

Mr Ackland declined to comment last night while Mr Stephens was unavailable.