A Greater Geelong city councillor has had workplace restrictions strengthened following an independent investigation into his behaviour toward council staff.
The Geelong Advertiser reported that former deputy mayor Anthony Aitken has been subjected to enhanced workplace controls after multiple allegations of inappropriate behaviour were substantiated.
Council CEO Ali Wastie informed the city’s leadership team about the action in an email seen by the Advertiser, describing interactions between Councillor Aitken and staff as “concerning.”
The authenticity of the email has been confirmed independently by the Roundup.
Under the new measures, Councillor Aitken is prohibited from directly contacting council staff. All communication must now go through the executive or councillor support team, with text messages to senior executives permitted only in urgent cases.
Previous sanctions requiring all meetings involving the councillor to be filmed and attended by senior executives have been extended until at least September next year.
Councillor Aitken has suggested he is being targeted for his approach as an independent thinker.
He was previously sanctioned in September last year after approximately 30 staff reportedly lodged complaints about his behaviour.