“It’s clearly inappropriate”: former mayor slams Huon Valley conflict of interest
The former mayor of a Tassie Council has slammed the recruitment process which allowed the partner of the contracted agency to be successful for the $250k role of GM.
Tasmania
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The Huon Valley Council needs to restart its search for a new general manager, according to a former mayor of the region amid ongoing concerns around a conflict of interest in the hiring process.
The comment comes after it was revealed the successful applicant for the position, former TasWater employee Jason Browne, is in a relationship with Joanne Inches, the head of recruitment agency Red Giant, which was contracted to narrow down the search.
There is no suggestion that Mr Browne is not qualified for the role and the current Huon Valley Mayor, Bec Enders has said the recruitment and the identified conflict had been managed with integrity.
But former mayor Peter Coad, who was sacked in 2016 in relation to council infighting, said there were many unanswered questions.
“The consultant did assess 85 applications while potentially conflicted and that’s a fact,” Mr Coad said.
“14 were submitted to council and another 71 applicants were dismissed while the consultant was potentially conflicted.”
Mr Coad said it “didn’t pass the pub test”.
“Knowing one of those applications was the consultant’s partner, it’s clearly inappropriate.”
“The consultancy should have been immediately suspended.
“I think the whole process should be suspended and recommenced with a new consultant,” Mr Coad said.
Mr Coad also questioned the deadline for applications being extended from the 17th of May to the 24th of May.
He said the council needed to clarify when Mr Browne’s application was received.
But the council said the advertising period was listed as two weeks due to an error and it was rectified when the council became aware of it.
The ad which remains on the Red Giant website now says applications closed on May 26th.
The Huon Valley council will hold a closed special meeting on Wednesday at 5pm where it will discuss the report of the review into the recruitment process for general manager.
The council will also discuss whether Mr Browne will commence in the role on September 21 as planned.
“As per the regulations, matters relating to personnel, personal and confidential nature are required to be considered in closed council,” a council spokesperson said.
“Council can confirm, following the meeting an update is proposed to be released to the public.”
The council will also consider whether the report will be released publicly.
Council GM appointment raises conflict of interest concerns
An external review into the hiring process to select a new Huon Valley Council general manager has been commissioned, following community concerns of a potential conflict of interest.
Former TasWater business performance manager Jason Browne, who was selected from 85 applications, is set to take on the role after he was appointed at a closed council meeting last month.
To assist in the recruitment process, the council contracted Hobart agency Red Giant.
It’s understood the managing director of the company, Joanne Inches is in a relationship with Mr Browne.
The connection had caused community concern, with the process questioned by members of a Cygnet community Facebook group.
“Declaring conflicts is part and parcel of public sector dealings,” one member said.
A council spokesperson said the conflict of interest was managed once it was declared, but despite a question from the Mercury, the council did not advise when it became aware of it.
“When the conflict of interest was declared by Red Giant to the Council, appropriate steps were taken to ensure the conflict was appropriately managed including excluding Ms Inches from participating in any of the interview processes or discussions connected with Mr Browne’s candidature,” the spokesperson said.
“Council appointed Mr Browne solely on the basis of merit and in the belief he is the best person for the role.”
Huon Valley Mayor Bec Enders said she was confident in the process but due to public concerns, an external review has been commissioned.
“I can assure the community that at the time of appointing Red Giant to assist the Council with its recruitment of a new General Manager, Council was not aware of any potential conflict of interest relating to the recruitment agent or potential candidates,” Mayor Bec Enders said.
“Council remains confident that the recruitment, including the identified conflict has been managed professionally and with integrity.”
The closing date for applications was originally May 17, 2021, but was extended to May 24.
The council said, the extension was due to an error.
“The advertising period was always intended to be for 3 weeks, concluding on 24 May 2021,” a council spokesperson said.
“When first advertised the closing date was inadvertently 2 weeks, an error that was communicated to council and subsequently rectified.”
The council was asked by the Mercury when Mr Browne’s application was received, but the question was not addressed in its response.
Ms Inches said it the final employment decision was made by Council
“At all times appropriate disclosures of any conflict of interest were declared and accepted,” Ms Inches said.
Former mayor Peter Coad has called on local government minister Roger Jaensch to have the incident investigated.
The General Manager’s total remuneration package is around $250,000.
Acting general manager Paul West will remain in the role in the interim with Mr Browne set to start on September 21.
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