Just days after Warrnambool City councillors sacked its chief executive, a state MP is calling for them to stand down - something three, including the mayor, are open to.
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The prospect of an independent monitor being appointed was put on the agenda yesterday by Western Victoria MP Bev McArthur on a day when it emerged two independent people had resigned, or stood aside, from the committee which monitored the previous CEO's performance.
Mrs McArthur said in light of the "dysfunction" at the council and "consternation" of the community with Monday's decision, the only realistic course of action was for the entire council to stand down or be stood down and an independent monitor immediately brought in from outside the area.
Mayor Tony Herbert said while he wasn't calling for it, he did support the idea, as did Cr Robert Anderson.
Cr Peter Sycopoulis said he could see the need for the state government to appoint an independent monitor. "I would endorse this action wholeheartedly," he said.
Mrs McArthur described Peter Schneider's dismissal as very disturbing. She said it appeared to be unjustified and left a serious blight on Warrnambool's reputation.
Mrs McArthur said she had been contacted by many concerned Warrnambool residents about the matter, and she believed a solution must be found which was not tainted by the bias of any individual, or group of individuals.
The CEO was dismissed on Monday night behind closed doors.
"Clearly the CEO has been mistreated," she said.
"To unilaterally terminate the CEO's employment without detailed reason, having just unanimously approved his regular performance review and KPIs with a pay rise, seems to be at odds with any vestige of fairness or good business practice."
Mrs McArthur said there had been issues of "culture and competence" in council for a number of years, well before Mr Schneider's appointment.
"He clearly inherited a situation in need of change and reform. For some, this often proves difficult to accept," she said.
Mrs McArthur also questioned the quick appointment of acting CEO Vikki King.
She said in the interests of transparency and good governance, an experienced "outsider" appointment recommended by Local Government Victoria, would have given the community a little more confidence about the process.
"It is also extraordinary that this decision has been taken in the middle of an international pandemic crisis, with three months to go before council elections and when some staff contracts might have been due for renewal," she said.
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