Disagreement between Glenorchy City Council mayor and general manager boils over
CLAIMS by Glenorchy Mayor Kristie Johnston that she holds serious concerns for the health of her General Manager Peter Brooks have sparked further ructions in the council, new documents show.
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CLAIMS by Glenorchy Mayor Kristie Johnston that she holds serious concerns for the health of her General Manager Peter Brooks have sparked further ructions in the council, new documents show.
The Mercury can reveal that Ald. Johnston and Mr Brooks were involved in a dispute at the Glenorchy Council Chambers on January 23 over Mr Brooks’ fitness to attend work.
The disagreement spilt over into that night’s council meeting which resulted in an hour-long closed debate during the council’s final meeting before State Government intervention.
On Friday, Local Government Minister Peter Gutwein said he was considering suspending the council and gave aldermen seven days to respond to his reasons, which are understood to have included concerns about proposed amendments to the General Manager’s contract, hostility between aldermen and senior staff members, and complaints lodged with the Director of Local Government.
Ald. Johnston says she is concerned about the council’s governance arrangements in relation to major projects and the council’s budget.
It comes after she adjourned a special council meeting in 2015 when Mr Brooks did not provide copies of a report aldermen were expected to vote on and in December, she adjourned a meeting called to consider amendments to Mr Brooks’ contract.
According to email correspondence obtained by the Mercury, Mr Brooks returned to work last Monday despite having earlier provided a medical certificate declaring him unfit for work until February 3.
In an email sent to Mr Brooks and circulated to all aldermen on Monday morning, Ald. Johnston directed Mr Brooks to provide her with a new medical certificate declaring that he was fit to work. She said she would also need to arrange an independent medical review because she held “serious concerns” for his health.
Ald. Johnston directed Mr Brooks to immediately leave council offices and to not attend the council meeting.
Later that day, Mr Brooks provided the certificate declaring him fit for work, but Ald. Johnston said the council would need to vote on the issue.
Aldermen closed Monday’s meeting just after it began to discuss a “pressing personnel issue,” after which Mr Brooks remained in the role of general manager.
Director of Local Government Alex Tay was present throughout the meeting.
A spokesman for Mr Brooks said “Mr Brooks’ specialist doctor provided the medical certificate stating that the General Manager was fit to return to work and it was not appropriate nor necessary for anyone to suggest he seek further medical advice.”
The spokesman said Mr Brooks emailed all aldermen to advise them he had returned to work.
Ald. Johnston said the emails related to a confidential council matter and it would be inappropriate for her to comment.
“Nonetheless, their disclosure is further evidence of my concerns about governance at the council and confirmation that the minister has taken the appropriate action,” she said.
Glenorchy City Council will hold a closed special meeting tomorrow to discuss its response to Mr Gutwein.
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