Glenorchy City Council Alderman Kelly Sims loses seat over ‘no shows’

A Glenorchy alderman has lost her seat on council after failing to attend meetings. She reveals why she thinks the decision was “cruel”. DETAILS >

Glenorchy City Council Alderman Kelly Sims. Picture Nikki Davis-Jones

Glenorchy alderman Kelly Sims has lost her seat on the council after missing three consecutive council meetings, General Manager Tony McMullen said on Tuesday.

Alderman Sims says she had asked for leave following her mother’s death and it had been denied.

In a media release issued on Tuesday afternoon, Mr McMullen said he had informed Ms Sims that her seat has become vacant under the rules prescribed by the Local Government Act 1993.

He said he had informed the Tasmanian Electoral Commissioner of the vacancy.

“The legislation stipulates that the office of a councillor becomes vacant if they are absent without leave from three consecutive ordinary meetings of council,” he said.

“Schedule 5 of the Act leaves council with no choice but to inform Alderman Sims that her office is now vacant and proceed as directed by the electoral commission to fill that vacancy.

“Matters relating to this issue were appropriately discussed in closed council at last night’s meeting. It would not be lawful, fair, or appropriate to comment on those matters publicly.”

“I would like to thank Alderman Sims for her contribution to the Glenorchy City Council, and wish her the best in her future endeavours.

Alderman Sims said the decision - which she learned about via the media - was “cruel and unbelievable”.

“My mum died last month and I am the next of kin so I had to have last month off and some things came up yesterday,” she said.

“I put in a formal request for leave and they’ve decided to vote against it in a closed meeting.

“I said I’d be back on Wednesday, I’ve just needed two days off.

“They’ve decided to squeeze me out because I stand up for things. They’ve been wanting me out for a while.”

In April, Ms Sims was found guilty of leaking a confidential report that had cleared a colleague of bullying.

Magistrate Michael Daly found Alderman Sims had failed to keep the report confidential by emailing out a description of its findings in October 2021.

An appeal will next be heard in the Supreme Court at a date to be determined.

In a separate matter, Alderman Sims was suspended from council in January this year over an unrelated code of conduct matter.

A panel found she had breached several parts of the code of conduct relating to treating people fairly, causing offence or embarrassment and bullying.

Her suspension was due to be lifted on April 23.

She was first elected to council in 2018.