City of Perth in Turmoil as CEO Michelle Reynolds Sacked
The City of Perth's CEO Michelle Reynolds has been sacked amid ongoing governance concerns and an investigation by the local government watchdog. Reynolds was suspended from her job in May and has vowed to appeal the decision.
A special meeting of council last night voted to terminate Michelle Reynolds' appointment as CEO of the City of Perth, effective immediately. The decision comes amid ongoing governance concerns and an investigation by the local government watchdog.
CEO Sacked Amid Turmoil
Mayor Bruce Reynolds announced the news on Wednesday morning, reading from a statement that cited an independent investigation. He said the findings were "sufficiently serious" to warrant her sacking, but did not elaborate on the details, describing it as a "confidential employment matter".
Bruce Reynolds refused to take questions from journalists when announcing the CEO's sacking.
Reynolds Vows to Appeal
In a statement, Michelle Reynolds expressed shock at being sacked and vowed to appeal the decision. She branded the four-month investigation a "witch hunt" designed to "impinge my reputation and scapegoat me".
"The allegations and investigation appear to me to be nothing more than a witch hunt designed to impinge my reputation and scapegoat me by an otherwise toxic council and likely cost the rate payers handsomely," she said.
Michelle Reynolds also hinted that she would have more to say about the council's dysfunction, citing "factionalism between the views of elected members with personal agendas and the effective function of the administration of local government as a multimillion-dollar business".
Council Response
The City of Perth will put interim leadership arrangements in place while a recruitment process begins for a new CEO. Bruce Reynolds said the council remained focused on the community it serves.
"We remain focused on the City, its people and the community we serve," he said.
Minister's Response
Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley said the local government inspector would review the process that led to Michelle Reynolds being sacked as part of his probe into the council.
"I have made it very clear that I have zero tolerance for dysfunction, zero tolerance for poor governance and zero tolerance for unsustainable financial management," she said.