By Laura Michell
Whittlesea council has sacked chief executive Simon Overland.
Mr Overland is the third council chief executive to be shown the door since April 2016 after councillors voted to terminate his contract last night.
Mr Overland has been on indefinite leave from council since November 20, citing concerns about his health and safety.
He has blamed the behaviour of some councillors for his decision to take indefinite leave.
Mr Overland was appointed as chief executive in July 2017 for five years.
In a statememt, mayor Emilia Lisa Sterjova said the council had terminated Mr Overland’s contract effective immediately.
Cr Sterjova did not answer questions from Star Weekly about why Mr Overland was sacked or how much his termination would cost council.
Cr Tom Joseph said he was disappointed by the decision to sack Mr Overland.
“It should not have happened,” he said.
Cr Joseph said he could not reveal why councillors had moved to sack Mr Overland as it was confidential, but said he voted against terminating his contract.
The council has been plauged by allegations of bullying in recent weeks, with Cr Lawrie Cox labelling it an “unsafe workplace”.
Yan Yean MP Danielle Green has called for the councillors responsible for the ‘hiring and firing’ of the council’s chief executives in recent years to stand down at the next election
The council is also the subject of an investigation by the Local Government Inspectorate.
Chief Municipal Inspector David Wolf confirmed the inspectorate was investigating a complaint in relation to the council
The council appointed acting chief executive Kelvin Spiller on November 23 in response to Mr Overland’s decision to take leave.
