Former top cop Simon Overland has been sacked from job as chief executive of Whittlesea Council
An urgent and confidential item on Whittlesea Council’s agenda saw former Police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland axed from his role as chief executive.
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Former police commissioner Simon Overland has been sacked from his role as chief executive of Whittlesea Council, according to a councillor.
It comes after mayor Emilia Sterjova called for last night’s council meeting to be closed to the public at 8pm for an “urgent and confidential item”.
In a statement, Ms Sterjova said: “At a council meeting held on Tuesday 10 December, the City of Whittlesea resolved to terminate the contract of its chief executive officer, Simon Overland, effective immediately.
“Council wishes Mr Overland well for his future endeavours.
“Acting CEO, Kelvin Spiller, will continue to act in the role.”
Mr Overland had one year remaining on his contract for which he was due to be paid $400,000.
The Herald Sun can reveal an independent monitor will be appointed to oversee issues at Whittlesea Council in the wake of Mr Overland being sacked.
It is understood the Andrews Government will announce its intervention later today.
Councillor Tom Joseph told the Herald Sun councillors were made aware Mr Overland had been sacked.
“I was completely shocked – nobody saw this coming,” he said.
Councillor Caz Monteleone also confirmed Mr Overland had been sacked after last night’s council meeting was abruptly closed to members of the gallery.
“The mayor has the support of the majority of the councillors,” he said.
He refused to comment further, saying details of the breaking situation were “delicate”.
Fellow councillor Lawrie Cox said he had “every confidence” in Mr Overland and condemned the move to sack him.
“There has been an ongoing campaign by some councillors to dismiss Simon ever since his involvement in Lawyer X was revealed,” he said.
“This is an adverse and inappropriate action against a vital witness set to take the stand at the Lawyer X royal commission.”
The former police chief commissioner announced on November 20 he would be taking an indefinite leave, citing “health and safety” reasons and “difficult” working conditions.
“The situation has been very difficult now for two years, but with recent changes on council, I now regrettably find my own health and safety significantly affected and accordingly, as of now, I am taking related leave,” he said.
“Since my appointment as CEO, health, safety and wellbeing for my staff at the City of Whittlesea has been a major focus, while meeting the needs of our community,” he wrote in a statement posted on the council’s website.
“However, interactions between councillors, and between some councillors and my staff, is not in keeping with contemporary requirements to ensure a safe and healthy workplace for all.
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“Despite many attempts over the past two years, I have been unsuccessful in achieving improvement here, and in many respects the behaviours of some councillors have deteriorated, therefore increasing the risks to health and wellbeing.”
Mr Overland was Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police from 2009 to 2011, and was the public face of the fight to bring the gangland war between Carl Williams and other underworld figures to an end.
He is due to take the stand at the Lawyer X royal commission next week.
Claims documents ‘doctored’ amid council chaos
Allegations Whittlesea Council doctored key documents during a special council meeting on November 23 have raised questions over the legality of appointing its acting chief executive.
Kelvin Spiller was appointed acting chief executive at the meeting.
Mr Overland took an indefinite leave on November 20, with Councillor Lawrie Cox saying the meeting agenda given to councillors on the day showed Mr Overland’s signature below the issue of summons — but he was not present at the meeting.
However, public documents of the same meeting, showed Mayor Emilia Sterjova had called the meeting instead.
“That certainly wasn’t the case on the day — the cover sheet has been doctored and that’s disgraceful,” Mr Cox claimed.
The former Whittlesea mayor claimed the document was falsified to hide a legal matter and called for the council to be sacked.
“The urgent meeting called to appoint the CEO was doubtful in its legality as the summons issued was under the signature of the CEO who is currently absent,” he said.
“The appointment of the temporary CEO is therefore doubtful in that the meeting’s legality has been questioned.
The council did not respond to questions about why the signatures were different.
Opposition local government spokesman Tim Smith this morning said the council was “completely dysfunctional” and called for independent oversight.
“This council has gone through 4 CEOs in the past 3 years,” he said.
“Adem Somyurek, Labor’s local government minister, must send a municipal monitor to examine councillor conduct and governance at the City of Whittlesea immediately.”
Yan Yean State Labor MP Danielle Green said she discovered Mr Overland had been sacked overnight after a councillor text messaged her.
She understood councillors were “bound by confidentiality” after the “in-camera” meeting.
The politician demanded officers reveal how much it was costing the council to “constantly hire and fire” chief executives.
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“I am amazed at the stupidity of this council,” she said.
“The poor staff who are trying their best to do their jobs are being impeded and ratepayers have had enough of all this mess going on at the top.
“This council needs to be fired instead.”