Investigation reveals councillor engaged in “inappropriate conduct”

A North Burnett councillor has been found guilty of ‘inappropriate conduct’ but the details remain a mystery.

Several North Burnett Council councillors discussed the findings of the councillor conduct investigation report.

The details of a North Burnett councillors’ inappropriate conduct remain a mystery after the region’s elected representatives voted to keep the investigation confidential.

Councillors went behind closed doors to discuss two separate confidential items at their May 2023 meeting, including the claims against an as-yet unidentified councillor.

Unconfirmed minutes from the meeting show Mayor Leslie Hotz and Susan Payne declared conflicts of interest ahead of discussions on the matter and left the room.

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The minutes show Ms Payne declared “a personal interest with regards to (Item 14.2), however I do not believe that there is any personal gain by me remaining in the room for the discussion and voting”.

“As a result of the declaration made earlier by Mayor Hotz, I will leave the room while the matter is considered and voted on.”

The meeting went behind closed doors - Melinda Jones, Dael Giddins and Michael Dingle voted in support of the investigation’s findings, which narrowly passed three votes to two.

Robert Radel and Kingsley Mesner rejected the resolution, which contained eight parts.

During the discussion, Mr Mesner moved that council decide no inappropriate conduct was engaged in.

That motion was lost.

The eight-part resolution included a finding “the councillor has engaged in inappropriate conduct,” and that no action will be taken against the councillor.

It was also agreed “the Councillor Conduct Investigation Report is to be treated as a confidential document of Council”.

It remains unclear who was subject to the investigation, however the CEO is expected to arrange “a workshop, externally facilitated, for the Complainant and Respondent collectively”.

The motion included a requirement for “a separate workshop for all Councillors collectively to clarify and agree their realistic expectations in relation to working together and what is and isn’t acceptable behaviour”.

CEO Margot Stork is expected to update the council conduct register with a record of the complaint, and to formally advise those involved and the Officer of the Independent Assessor the results of the investigation.