GRANT District Mayor Richard Sage has been reinstated as the council’s principal spokesperson after it was stripped from the civic leader six months ago.
While the decision by elected members was not unanimous, Mr Sage will regain his rights to speak with media regarding council matters.
But council will continue to hold a tight rein over Mr Sage given he will need to get the green light from executives before speaking with media.
The rural council was embroiled in a string of controversies last year amid allegations connected with code of conduct breaches.
The organisation formally adopted a cultural charter of agreed behaviours following independent consultants preparing a cultural review report.
Staff in the report described the organisation’s culture at that time as “toxic” and a place “gripped by infighting”.
At this week’s council meeting, chief executive officer Darryl Whicker urged elected members to review the constraints imposed on Mr Sage given the decision was determined on October 1 last year.
The council executive said staff felt they were the “meat in the sandwich” when it came to deciding who could speak with media.
He said there was a need to “take control” of media relations and council had achieved this.
Mr Whicker – who started in the position in late October – said it was time for elected members to consider whether Mr Sage should be reinstated as principal spokesperson.
“The principal spokesperson for council is default the mayor,” he said.
But he said the current situation was difficult given staff were constantly questioning whether the spokesperson should be the mayor, councillor or staff.
“We do not want to see the situation where the mayor or other councillors exercise their autonomous rights going to the media and saying ‘I’m not talking as mayor or as a councillor but as an individual’,” Mr Whicker said.
He said council had avoided this scenario in the past six months by elected members contacting council before any media engagements.
Mr Whicker said the current parameters made it difficult for staff to do their jobs.
“It is not an efficient approach … it makes us the meat in the sandwich and it has been long enough.”
Mr Sage said significant work had been achieved between himself and Mr Whicker navigating the road forward.
“A lot of work has been done about how we work forward … there has been a lot more work done in communicating with elected members to keep them informed,” he said.
Adding to discussion, Cr Jody Elliott said she felt “comfortable” returning Mr Sage as council’s principal spokesperson given press releases were being released by staff.
But she argued communication between Mr Whicker and the mayor should continue regarding any press statements.
She did not want a situation where an elected member could “spray” comments on any issues in the media.
“There still needs to be some control methods around that … we have worked hard to turn that around.”
But a number of councillors raised the need to also include elected members – with various expertise – in some press releases.
However, Crs Shirley Little and Megan Dukalskis urged council to maintain the status quo.
While Cr Dukalskis moved there should be no change until after the workshop on the cultural charter, this was lost.
Cr Little called for a voting division, the majority of elected members then voted to reinstate Mr Sage as principal spokesperson with consultation with Mr Whicker.
In the minutes of the Chief Executive Officer Recruitment, Performance and Remuneration Review Committee held in late April, the committee members raised the need to review and revisit the Charter of Agreed Behaviours.
“It was always the intent the charter be revisited and staff are also requesting this be the case,” the minutes said.
“Council needs to lead and resolve this issue so the organisation can heal. The committee recognised that some elements are no longer relevant and/or perhaps necessary and the council need to discuss and agree a way forward as a council and senior staff.
“It was also highlighted that elected members do not all adhere to the charter and that compromise is needed to move forward.”
