By Laura Michell
Close to 200 Whittlesea council employees have signed a petition calling for former chief executive Simon Overland to be reinstated.
Cr Lawrie Cox attempted to table the petition at the December 17 council meeting at the request of staff, but was prevented from doing so.
He will now try to table the petition at the February 4 council meeting.
Cr Cox said the petition had been signed by 187 people prior to December 17, but he has since been advised that there are more staff members who wish to add their names to it.
The petition says council staff believe Mr Overland’s contract was terminated without reasonable justification, adding the decision had been detrimental to staff wellbeing.
“Twenty-five per cent of full time staff signed it … I think that is fairly significant itself,” Cr Cox said.
“There’s not too many CEOS that enjoy that support.”
The petition followed Cr Cox’s calls for the council to reinstate Mr Overland, amid concerns the decision to terminate his contract had exposed the council to significant damage.
As reported by Star Weekly last month, Cr Cox said Mr Overland’s contract was terminated without a reason – as was the case when former chief executive Michael Wootten was axed by the council in March 2017.
“The council needs to rethink its position and reverse its decision to reinstate Simon Overland prior to any proceedings commencing,” Cr Cox said.
Star Weekly understands that Mr Overland’s termination has been referred to the Fair Work Commission.
Mr Overland is the third chief executive to be shown the door at Whittlesea council since April 2016.
The council is currently being monitored by former Geelong council interim administrator Yehudi Blacher.
Local Government Minister Adem Somyurek appointed Mr Blacher last month to oversee the council in light of the instability in senior management over the past three years.
Mr Blacher will be at the council until June 30.
