Tree, what tree?

I understand Shire CEO Tim Clynch has been busy hosing down the issues raised by a former Council employee ..... outlined in previous posts here.

Mr Clynch and the councillors have had a nice little chat about it all behind closed doors and the upshot is that its just a storm in a teacup, everything has been fully investigated and nobody has done anything wrong.

Included in his briefing was a statement that some of my information was wrong. It was not the case that a native tree was felled (without a clearing permit) for timber to build the fancy outdoor recreational facility for staff.

Well, what do we have here?

That's a recently chopped down tree in the depot grounds.

And what's this?

This is what's left of the tree after it had been cut into lengths of timber at the back of the depot with a Lucas Mill belonging to a Shire staff member.

And finally...

There's the timber being used to make the patio.

I've asked the councillors if they think there is anything wrong with any of this and they have simply circled the wagons, claiming they are not allowed to pursue the issues because they are "operational". They have been trained to see their role as nothing more than rubber stamps for decisions made by the senior staff.

The councillors are ignoring  their responsibility to make sure the CEO is doing his job properly.  And if these sorts of things are going on and senior staff including the CEO are simply covering up, that is surely a matter for councillors.

For instance, if the CEO says he has investigated something, but he has never interviewed the complainant, is that a satisfactory investigation???

It's called turning a blind eye

After being informed about the issues raised in the post below this one, I went along to the Council  Meeting on Thursday 26 of March and used public question time to ask the President, Mr Pratico what he did when a Shire employee informed him late last year that illegal activities were taking place at the Shire depot.  This is a transcript of his answers, and some given by the CEO, Mr Clynch. The answers  surprised me.  They might surprise you too. 

My questions to the President   re; former Shire employee Kevin Edsall

11.    In late November last year, when then Shire employee Kevin Edsall, who was the fleet manager at the depot, approached you at the Agricultural Show and reported the theft of steel beams from the Shire Depot by a fellow employee, what action did you take?

President: “When that was reported to me, the matter had already been reported to the CEO previous to that, so I made the CEO aware of the theft.”

My follow up: Do you know…what was the outcome?

 “The CEO  attended to it and the material was returned.”

22.    When Mr Edsall reported to you that his colleagues at the depot had cut down a jarrah tree on crown land and were using Shire supplies and equipment in work hours to construct a recreational amenity, that is an enclosed deck, for themselves on Shire property at the depot, what action did you take?

President: “I think that the Manager of Works was aware that enclosure being built, so there was no action for me to take.”

My follow up: Do you know whether a building permit was sought or obtained for the structure which was built?

Answer from CEO: “No, my understanding is that a building permit was not required for that work."

Why was that?

CEO: “I just made the inquiry and that was the response I got.”

33.    When Mr Edsall later reported to you that not long after him raising the previously mentioned issues, one of his colleagues at the depot had presented him with a spent .22 calibre bullet shell at his workplace, what action did you take?

President: “He… when I questioned why he was presented with that, his response was the Shire employee who presented it said he found it.”

Follow up: Did you not see that as a case of bullying or intimidation in the workplace?

President:  “As Shire President, if it was a case of bullying, or if Mr Edsall felt it was bullying, he should have gone to his superior in the workplace, which was the Manager of Works."

I believe he did report it, but what was your reaction?

"I do not believe it is the Shire President’s role to interfere in operational matters.”

Answer from CEO: "I conducted an investigation into that matter and arrived at a conclusion that there was no…"

What was your finding?

"I decided there was no case of bullying in that situation."