Ku-ring-gai Council in Sydney has been making news after terminating the services of its general manager, John McKee in a confidential council session, with immediate effect.
But the morning after the decision, Mr McKee was still on the job due to the lodgement of a rescission motion by three councillors, including the mayor.
An original motion seeking to put the general manager’s position out to a competitive process was amended to the effect that the general manager not be offered a new contract; and to appoint the council’s director corporate David Marshall as acting GM.
The amendment was passed by six votes to four.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Mr McKee was unaware of the pending vote, and that no concerns had been raised with him about his behaviour or performance.
One councillor who opposed the motion said Mr McKee was being used as a political tool, and was a victim of jostling over the mayoralty which is due to be decided next month.
According to a council spokeswoman, Mr McKee remains as general manager until the council reconsiders the matter at a future meeting. The next regular scheduled Council meeting is due on 19th September.