The Glamorgan Spring Bay Council may be looking towards its new chapter, but its former general manager and mayor are still pointing fingers at who is to blame for its past controversies.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Former general manager David Metcalf has taken to a community newsletter to pen his reply to former mayor Debbie Wisby's 'setting the record straight' statement, which was published back in July when she resigned.
More than three months later, Mr Metcalf said her statement contained allegations about him and his time at the council which were 'simply untrue'.
"Since my retirement from this position in July 2019 there have been occasions when comments have been made about my tenure by persons within the council which were simply without basis," he said.
IN OTHER NEWS:
"I am now taking the opportunity to 'set the record straight' in response. I have sought council to publish a formal response correcting the errors in the statement, however no substantive response has been received and therefore I am left to do so of my own accord."
He claims the council was not in financial troubles at any time during his almost 12 year position, generally all mandatory statutory records were up to date, there were no years of neglect and all recommendations from the Local Government Division's investigations were implemented.
Ms Wisby resigned after having allegations of bullying and harassment levelled at her in January. She said the criticism was "unfair" and was affecting her health.
The council was issued a performance improvement direction after an independent review found it was not complying with the Local Government Act.
In her July statement, she said the council inherited a situation where statutory records were not kept and lamented the governments handling of the performance direction.
She also said she had been worn down by constant criticism and lack of support from the Local Government division and an orchestrated few, both inside and outside the council office.
The council's new general manager Greg Ingham said the pair pointing fingers at each other was not an ideal situation.
"In terms of the former GM asking the council to publish a formal response. I don't believe that has happened because at the time there was disagreement between council and the former GM as to how that response should look," he said.
"I think council's turned a corner and the sooner we can put these things behind us, the better."
What do you think? Send us a letter to the editor:
Isobel Cootes
Sports reporter at The Canberra Times. A Novocastrian with a passion for football (or soccer as they call it in the capital) via The Examiner and The Port Lincoln Times.
Sports reporter at The Canberra Times. A Novocastrian with a passion for football (or soccer as they call it in the capital) via The Examiner and The Port Lincoln Times.
