‘Not the supreme commander’: CEO urged to stay in her lane after code of conduct “threats”

After voicing frustrations to the Mercury over certain meetings being held behind closed doors, two elected members found a surprising email in their inboxes from their council’s CEO. Why they’re vowing not to stay silent.

Alderman Marti Zucco and Councillor Louise Elliot of Hobart City Council are unhappy that council meetings will no longer be held fortnightly. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Two elected members at Hobart City Council say they’ve been threatened with code of conduct complaints after voicing their concerns around a new meeting model adopted by the council on Monday.

The changes will result in the number of general meetings being halved and the introduction of fortnightly workshops, which unlike general meetings, will not be livestreamed or open for anyone to listen in on.

Alderman Marti Zucco and Councillor Louise Elliot spoke to the Mercury on Tuesday about their worries around the changes, including concerns the council would be less transparent.

What followed was an email from City of Hobart CEO Kelly Grigsby on Wednesday, suggesting the two could be in breach of the code of conduct, which Ms Grigsby has since denied were threats.

“ … whilst I appreciate that individual elected members will have differing views on matters considered by the council, and quite appropriately vote as they see fit, it is quite concerning to read the comments attributed to elected members criticising the approach,” Ms Grigsby said in a separate email to all elected members.

HCity of Hobart CEO Kelly Grigsby. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“The comments made may constitute a breach of part 8 of the council’s elected member code of conduct in that an elected member’s personal views must not be expressed publicly in such a way as to undermine the decisions of the council or bring the council into disrepute.”

Mr Zucco said he would not be silent.

“This is akin to the head of a department telling a minister to keep quiet,” Mr Zucco said.

“In her actions, the CEO seems to be overstepping the bounds of her responsibilities.

“The CEO should remember she is a paid official appointed to serve the council. She is not the supreme commander and she’s not there to dictate to elected officials.”

Ms Elliot said she did not believe her actions were a breach of the code of conduct.

“The reason the council is made up of 12 people is because we all have different backgrounds, experiences and opinions,” Ms Elliot said.

“Disagreement is inevitable and we are not doing our role as elected representatives if we don’t voice our views in a respectful and constructive way and it’s wrong to try to intimidate people into submission for not towing the line.

“This is a blatant threat not only from a legal perspective but also an attempt to embarrass myself and Alderman Zucco into silence and compliance.”

Ms Grigsby denied threatening elected members with code of conduct complaints and said she was drawing their attention to specific provisions.

“I identified in my email to all elected members a reminder on a clear principle of good governance,” Ms Grigsby said.

A City of Hobart spokesman said it was “completely appropriate” for the CEO to send the emails.