Lord Mayor acts beyond her authority
April 24th, 2006Media Release
Following on from the disturbing departure of City of Sydney Council CEO Mr. Peter Seamer, Greens Councillor Chris Harris has obtained explosive legal advice that indicates that the Lord Mayor has acted outside her authority
According to this advice, the Lord Mayor’s power to negotiate a settlement with Mr Seamer would depend upon whether he resigned or was sacked and the Lord Mayor should immediately reveal the details of the CEO’s departure to the Councillors.
Cr Harris: “Whether the Lord Mayor forced the CEO to step down or whether she accepted his resignation with a negotiated confidential payout I have clear legal advice that the Lord Mayor has acted beyond her powers. If the CEO has resigned, as the Lord Mayor claims, the Lord Mayor has no authority to negotiate a settlement. If he has been terminated then the Lord Mayor has acted unlawfully in failing to consult with the Councillors.”
The Lord Mayor in her other role as Member for Bligh consistently attacks the Government for its lack of accountability, yet as Lord Mayor she refuses to be accountable for the expenditure of large amounts of public money.
Ratepayers are entitled to an explanation as to why one of the best administrators in the country has been lost to the city as well as the details - including costs - that surround his departure. As representatives on council, and this includes the Lord Mayor, our job is to be responsible to the community for our actions. This means obeying the law as set out in legislation and resolutions of Council.” Cr. Harris said
The Greens legal advice shows that Councillors should have had a say in any proposal to terminate the CEO or if indeed the CEO did resign, the negotiation of any payout.
The Greens demand that the Lord Mayor immediately provide a copy of Mr Seamer’s resignation letter, details of the termination settlement and come clean with the ratepayers and Councillors on what really happened.” Cr. Harris said.
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