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Kyogle Shire Council sacked their General Manager Graham Kennett, effective immediately at their final meeting of the year on December 11.
According to IndyNR.com there had been an attempt to sack Mr Kennett in April 2022 that had led to 100 of the KSC staff, bar three, protesting the dismissal at an extraordinary meeting.
However, Mayor Kylie Weber told The Echo that ‘what happened 18 months ago is that there was a request to have a frank discussion around his contract. There was an extraordinary meeting called to discuss it as a group. It was leaked out to the community and took on a life of its own,’ At the end of the December 11 meeting Cr Maggie May, seconded by Cr Robert Cullen moved to take the council into closed session to discuss the GMs contract.’
The Mayor opened the meeting to the public gallery to seek opinion on going into a confidential session and ‘Mr Simon Dejoux put to the meeting that he did not think it was appropriate to go confidential’ according to the unconfirmed minutes of the meeting.
‘Mr Robin Harley asked to know what was of such concern and urgency. The Mayor said the matter had been deemed urgent by the chair and that there was a process to follow,’ state the KSC minutes.
The motion to go into confidential was carried with the votes of Mayor Kylie Webster and councillors Tom Cooper, Maggie May, Robert Cullen and James Murray. Councillors Danielle Mulholland, John Burley, Janet Wilson and Hayden Doolan voted against the motion.
‘Councillor John Burley had to leave the room for the discussion and the vote because he is related by marriage to Mr Kennett,’ according to IndyNR.com.
Following discussions the councillors returned to the open council and the Mayor Kylie Webster, seconded by Cr Maggie May moved to ‘Terminate the employment contract of the General Manager Graham Kennett under clause 10.3.5 effective immediately by final termination payment being thirty-eight (38) weeks’ pay in lieu of notice’ and ‘Appoint Mr Brett Kelly as interim General Manager for the period of up to 18 months’.
Crs Kylie Webster, Maggie May, Tom Cooper, Rob Cullen and James Murray voted in favour of the termination, Cr Janet Wilson voted against while Crs Danielle Mulholland and Hayden Doolan abstained, though this was taken as a vote against in the minutes.
‘This time we have had a review and the council has voted to go in a new direction and change GM,’ the Mayor told The Echo.
Interim GM
Brett Kelly was officially appointed as interim GM effective from December 12.
‘Brett brings extensive experience in leadership and successfully managing large complex organisations over the past twenty-five years,’ said a press release from KSC.
‘Brett’s most recent role was that of CEO for peak industry body AMIA (Australian Mango Industry Association). Prior to that he was the CEO for Australia’s largest farmer-owned berry producer Oz Group Co-operative, as well as earlier spending nearly ten years as the CEO for Norco Co-operative.
‘We welcome Brett on board and look forward to working together.’
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