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Adam Langenberg July 7, 2016, 5:30 p.m.
Dismissed Flinders Council general manager Raoul Harper
Flinders Island residents have reacted angrily to Flinders Council general manager Raoul Harper’s sacking. ................. Mr Harper told Fairfax Tasmania he was informed his contract would be terminated on Tuesday, following a closed council meeting on Monday. r .................. A sign in the local newsagent urges concerned voters to contact Local Government Minister Peter Gutwein if they were concerned by the council’s decision, while another sign in the town calls on four councillors; Peter and Chris Rhodes, Ken Stockton and Gerald Willis; to resign. r .................. It’s understood those four councillors voted in favour of Mr Harper’s contract being terminated. r .................. Another community member is understood to have started a petition against Mr Harper’s dismissal. r .................. Newsagent Lois Ireland said she thought Mr Harper’s dismissal was “extremely unjust”. r .................. Ms Ireland said she had noticed a large amount of surprise and shock in the community following Mr Harper’s sacking. r .................. She said Mr Harper was “someone that the community respected” and said she was worried what his dismissal would cost the council and ratepayers. r .................. Mr Harper, who left the council by the close of business on Tuesday, said he had yet to be given a list of reasons as to why his contract was terminated and was seeking legal advice. r .................. Mr Gutwein said he understood the community was concerned and had written to the council for an explanation of the circumstances and timing of Mr Harper’s dismissal.
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Adam Langenberg July 6, 2016, 5 p.m.
Flinders Council general manager Raoul Harper says he is yet to receive a list of reasons as to why he has been sacked from the position he held for seven years. Mr Harper says he was informed by the council that his contract would be terminated on Tuesday, and left the council by the end of that day. It’s understood councillors decided to terminate Mr Harper’s contract following a closed council meeting on Monday evening. Mayor Carol Cox, who is on leave, was not at the meeting. Mr Harper has been on personal leave following the death of his mother and said his dismissal came as a complete shock. “It’s completely out of the blue, all I can do is take legal advice about what to do from here,” Mr Harper said. ........... “In all honesty I’ve been dealing with my mother dying for some weeks now. It’s a pretty hard pill to swallow.” ........... Mr Harper said he had asked for a statement of reasons behind his dismissal, but had not been provided with one. ........... He said he had received a pay rise about a month ago following a performance review. ........... The council published a notice in The Examiner on Wednesday stating the position had become vacant as of 5pm on Tuesday. ........... Neither acting Mayor Marc Cobham or acting general manager Sophie Pitchford would comment on whether Mr Harper had been sacked or the reasons behind his departure. ........... Cr Cobham said he had been given legal advice that he was to repeat the notice lodged in The Examiner and not to provide further comment on the issue. ........... Ms Pitchford will remain in the role of acting general manager while the council undergoes the process of recruiting a permanent replacement for Mr Harper. ........... It’s understood at least one councillor in attendance at the closed council meeting opposed Mr Harper’s contract being terminated. ........... A former Break O’Day councillor, Mr Harper joined Flinders Council in 2009. ........... Cr Cox was contacted for comment.
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