Some Crs not happy with how staff matter was handled

Not all Councillors were satisfied with how the staff matter was dealt with at the recent extraordinary meeting.

Coffs Harbour City Council, Council Chambers. 11 July 2019

Although most of the details in relation to the ‘personnel matter’ dealt with at the recent extraordinary meeting remain confidential, it’s clear that two Coffs Harbour City Councillors were dissatisfied with the outcome.

It was one of two items on the agenda with the meeting kicking off at 4pm.

The first being a call from Crs Sally Townley and Tegan Swan for a report into the removal of acid sulfate soil from the Cultural and Civic Space construction site.

Tempers flared and Councillors were divided on the issue with Mayor Denise Knight using her casting vote to support the motion calling for a report documenting how and why changes were made to the disposal of the soil from the Gordon St site.

Councillors Sally Townley and Tegan Swan were behind the extraordinary meeting to find out more about the decision to dispose acid sulfate soils from the Cultural and Civic Space project in Queensland.

In the agenda it was noted that a confidential matter relating to an individual (other than Councillors) would then be raised, and that proceedings may be closed to the public.

At around 5.30 Mayor Knight called for the meeting to be closed to the staff, press and public and this was carried unanimously.

The staff not related to the issue and others vacated the chamber and the public audiovisual was turned off.

About an hour later Council reconvened into open meeting.

Crs then voted on the confidential resolution from the closed discussion with Crs Knight, Michael Adendorff, Paul Amos, John Arkan, George Cecato and Keith Rhoades voting to support it while Crs Swan and Townley voted against it.

Crs Rhoades and Cecato then called for no action to be taken in relation to the personnel matter and Crs Knight, Adendorff, Amos and Arkan backed them up.

But Crs Townley and Swan were not willing to support this, giving a clear indication they were keen to see some form of action taken on the matter.