Councillors given portfolio of references on CEO Mark Stapleton
In a night meeting councillors were handed copies of reference checks that Mark Stapleton said deals with the allegations.
Parramatta
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CHIEF executive officer Mark Stapleton has given Parramatta councillors a portfolio of references in defence of his resume.
At an informal meeting on Monday night, councillors were presented with a comprehensive list of documents and references that Mr Stapleton said vindicated his qualifications and appointment.
Labor councillor Sameer Pandey was at the meeting.
“Each councillor was given them and they are currently in our possession,” Cr Pandey said.
He said the dispute was “not a good look for the city”.
“We need to give both parties the opportunity to come up with their side of the story, sometimes we can’t make a conclusion until then,” he said.
“There are a few unknowns, from both sides, and the councillors are trying to give those people the opportunity to clear their names and respond.”
Councillors have slammed the handling of falsified resume claims against the chief executive, demanding an independent investigation into the recruitment process.
Greens councillor Phil Bradley said residents had lost confidence in the council following claims chief executive Mark Stapleton overstated his experience on his resume to get the $500,000 a year job.
Mr Stapleton has denied falsifying his CV and said he was considering legal action.
Cr Bradley said the claims had left “question marks hanging over our heads” and led to “public uncertainty and reduced confidence” in the council.
“As an elected councillor I am accountable to the community of Parramatta for the performance of the council,” he said.
Cr Bradley will seek the support of his fellow councillors for an independent investigation into the matter.
Labor councillor Pierre Esber has requested an extraordinary meeting of council to address the issues.
“I’m concerned by what’s going on in the city, we need stability, we’ve got to be smart, sit down and thrash out the issues,” he said.
Mr Stapleton was appointed to the role in July, after an 8-7 vote in the council chamber.
Parramatta Lord Mayor Andrew Wilson, who voted against Cr Stapleton’s appointment, confirmed a meeting would take place in the coming days.
The council is likely to consider suspending Mr Stapleton at the meeting as well as claims the chief executive was “bullied” by the mayor.
The pair met on Friday to discuss the claims Mr Stapleton falsified parts of his resume.
In an email to Cr Wilson following the meeting, Mr Stapleton said the mayor was “shouting and speaking at me in an aggressive voice while you were shaking violently as your face turned red”.
Cr Wilson told the Advertiser he was “not aware of any the details of any allegations concerning myself”. He also said the council is functioning as normal.
“I was pleased with the professionalism of the council,” Cr Wilson said.
“It is business as usual, and things are happening unabated.”