Acting Huon Mayor ‘not going anywhere’: Huon Valley council down to six

The acting mayor of a southern council is determined to “get on with business” following the recent resignations of two councillors and the former mayor.

The acting mayor of a southern council is determined to “get on with business” following the recent resignations of two councillors and the former mayor.

The acting mayor of a southern council is determined to “get on with business” following the recent resignations of two councillors and the former mayor.

Acting Huon Valley Council mayor Sally Doyle said the next six months were an important time to knuckle down a looming federal election.

It comes as the number of remaining councillors has reduced to six.

Former Huon Valley Council mayor Bec Enders resigned abruptly in March following backlash over the recruitment of Jason Browne as general manager after it emerged he had been in a relationship with the head of the agency involved in creating a shortlist of candidates for the role.

There has been no suggestion Mr Browne was undeserving or underqualified for the role.

On Sunday, Huon Valley Councillors Christine Campbell and Paul Gibson resigned in a stand against the council’s decision to continue Mr Browne’s contract following a probationary review.

Acting Mayor Sally Doyle for Huon Valley Council. Picture: Facebook.

A ballot will be held to determine replacements for Ms Campbell’s roles on Arts and Culture, Audit Panel and General Manager’s Performance Review Committees.

“We have six councillors and while it is disappointing to see Councillors Gibson and Campbell leave, we can still achieve the important tasks that are before us,” Ms Doyle said.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

Ms Doyle said wins for the community included recently securing a new permanent GP and allocating $500,000 to a new Land Use and Development Strategy.

“I am aware that these past few months have taken a toll on the staff at council,” she said.

“I will be offering to meet with staff over coming days to check in with them and to let them know of my commitment to healthy workplaces.”

Edge Legal has reviewed the recruitment process of Mr Browne and found the council had not breached the code of conduct or any relevant governance acts or frameworks.

Auditor-General Rod Whitehead deemed the hiring process to be flawed during his review.

Why more Huon Valley councillors have resigned

The Huon Valley Council is down to just six members with two more hanging up their boots after a conflict of interest saga.

Christine Campbell and Paul Gibson resigned effective immediately on Sunday with both councillors unsatisfied with the handling of a conflict of interest which was discovered during the recruitment process for general manager.

The two calling it quits follows the resignation of mayor Bec Enders last month – though Ms Enders did not provide reasons for her departure and declined to comment.

The Huon Valley Council when it was newly elected in 2018 with now Premier Peter Gutwein and former general manager Emilio Reale. Pic: Huon Valley Council

The council received backlash during the general manager recruitment process after it was revealed the lead candidate, Jason Browne, was in a relationship with Joanne Inches, the head of the company contracted to whittle down the list of candidates.

Mr Browne was later successful in securing a five-year contract in the role, with a remuneration package of $246,175 per year.

There is no suggestion Mr Browne was not qualified for the role, or that he was not a deserving appointee.

Newly appointed Huon Valley Council GM Jason Browne. Pic Supplied

The process was later reviewed by Edge Legal which cleared the council of breaching the code of conduct, Huon Valley governance framework and local government act.

The hiring process was also reviewed by Auditor-General Rod Whitehead, who found the process was flawed.

Councillors later undertook conflict of interest training.

But when Mr Browne’s contract was continued after a probationary review, Ms Campbell and Mr Gibson were unsatisfied with the outcome.

Ms Campbell, who was initially on the recruitment panel, claimed she’d raised concerns around the conflict but was promptly shot down.

“When you’re making a decision for a high powered position, the panel needs to have a discussion,” Ms Campbell said.

“I was shut down and told I had to accept the panel’s decision – it was quite forceful and it was quite a loud, raised voice.

Former Huon Valley councillor Paul Gibson. Pic: Tasmanian Greens

Former Huon Valley councillor Christine Campbell. Pic: Tasmanian Greens

“It became more than just one councillor and it just escalated.”

Mr Gibson said he didn’t feel the council had been transparent in its handling of the recruitment.

“I didn’t want to be associated with that decision and I didn’t want to be seen to condone it,” Mr Gibson said.

“To stay on council I would have had to remain supportive.”

Mr Gibson said the issue was far reaching.

“It’s a bigger issue than just Huon Valley Council, we need to work towards better, fairer, more open governance,” Mr Gibson said.

Mr Gibson said he would run for mayor in the October local government elections if he was endorsed by the Greens.

Ms Campbell said she was undecided but would continue working in the community.

The resignations means the council is down to just six instead of the full body of nine, and could operate three members short until the October local government elections.

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