IN A move that’s been labelled “ludicrous”, Wakool Shire Council has sacked its general manager amid concerns the council will be sent into administration next year.
The council convened a special meeting on Tuesday morning after receiving an email from the Office of Local Government last week informing it that the state government intended it to merge with neighboring Murray Shire as part of the Fit for the Future (FFTF) reforms.
The email went on to say the council would go into administration in May so the government could prepare it for the merger, despite the proposal still needing to receive approval from the Boundaries Commission.
While the special council meeting was aimed at sorting out how council would address the shock proposal, councillors also decided to terminate the contract of general manager Bruce Graham in a confidential section.
Mr Graham was forced to go on leave earlier this month, the primary reason for the resignations of ex-councillors Anthony Jackson and Colin Membrey — who claimed that Mayor Neil Gorey was trying to negotiate his exit.
When contacted by The Guardian, Cr Gorey declined to explain the reason behind the termination, saying there were more important issues at hand such as the merger and the by-elections to fill the vacant councillor positions.
“We’ve got a lot of issues with Fit for the Future and we’re pretty keen to move on and get the best results for our council — that’s all I can say,” he said.
“I wish Bruce well in the future.”
Mr Membrey said he was “disgusted” with the sacking, as Mr Graham had only recently received a glowing annual performance review.
He said Mr Graham had been instrumental in Wakool Shire being declared fit for the future, and his sacking was “yet enough example of the staff harassment that has been prevalent” in the council.
“The council should hang their heads in shame because they’ve cost Wakool Shire potentially a couple of hundred thousand dollars to replace a general manager who was doing a good job and who, due to the fact that we’re going to merge with Murray Shire, would’ve walked out the door in nine months time anyway,” he said.
“They want to walk him out now and pay an interim to do the same job — it’s just ludicrous, it makes no sense whatsoever.”
Mr Jackson said the termination vindicated his and Mr Membrey’s previous claims Cr Gorey was trying to fire Mr Graham.
“Unfortunately the [seven per cent] rate increase recently imposed on ratepayers in an attempt to maintain services will more than likely go into funding this decision that council made,” he added.
The Guardian could not get in contact with Mr Graham.
