Councillor Jasmin Jones has publicly withdrawn support for general manager David Rowe despite voting to extend his contract at a meeting last month.
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The first-term councillor took Mr Rowe to task over his handling of the original Park and Ride proposal in a letter to the editor, published in today’s edition.
Mr Rowe, however, has allies in Mayor Rowena Abbey and the majority of councillors – some of who have publicly backed the manager.
Collectively, they agreed to reappoint Mr Rowe as general manager for another four years during a closed session of their May 14 meeting.
Cr Jones’ letter and subsequent comments from her chamber colleagues reinforce divisions within the elected local government panel.
“It is with disappointment that I publicly withdraw my support and confidence in Yass Valley Council’s general manager, David Rowe,” Cr Jones writes.
“I struggled to vote in favour of his recently renewed contract, but given the imminent departure of key staff, including the hardworking Director or Planning, it seemed a necessary step for stability.”
Cr Jones points to Mr Rowe’s insistence that a Park and Ride operation be established in Comur Street and not explored elsewhere as the “final straw”.
“I no longer have faith in the general manager to run transparent administration,” she adds.
Councillors voted against the initial Comur Street Park and Ride proposal – one that if successful, would have afforded Barton Highway commuters the luxury of leaving their cars in a central location before boarding a bus to the national capital.
Many in the community believed council staff hadn’t properly explored alternative and viable locations, including the old IGA block on Lead Street and a Rossi Street patch of land near Riverbank Park and an existing bus depot.
The concept is still alive, however. Councillors have another week to find a suitable location before running the risk of losing the $280,000 funding altogether.
With the exception of Geoff Frost, Councillor Jones’ view isn’t shared among her colleagues. On the contrary, some are furious at her decision to air grievances in the form a letter to the editor.
“David Rowe’s a very good general manager and Rowena Abbey’s an excellent mayor,” Cr Garry Ware said on Monday.
“We’re very lucky to have two such highly qualified leaders.”
Cr Abbey said, “Following a unanimous decision of all councillors in relation to the General Manager’s contract a few weeks ago, I am surprised and disappointed that Cr Jones did not even discuss her concerns with any of her fellow councillors or followed any due process in relation to her concerns.”
Gundaroo-based representative Cecil Burgess has become known as a straight-shooter in his two decade tenure on council. He too backed the general manager.
“There’s nothing wrong with David Rowe, he’s doing an excellent job,” Cr Burgess said.
“He’s got my support. This is just Jasmin carrying on, that’s all.”
Greg Butler weighed into discussion as well.
“He’s only just been reappointed. Bearing in mind the difficulty of the job he’s got to do, I have confidence in David. He’s not perfect, but no one is. Jasmin wants perfect people – she’s not going to get that.”
Second-term councillor Geoff Frost bucked the trend, backing his colleague’s criticism of the Park and Ride plan.
“While specific comments about the general manager's performance are better discussed in other fora, I fully support Jasmin and share her frustration over the lack of transparency in the Park and Ride issue,” Cr Frost said.
“It is absolutely essential that councillors are fully informed on these issues. We have a duty to represent the interests of the public and staff have a duty to ensure we have all the facts.”
Aside from an illness-forced hiatus in 2009, Mr Rowe has acted as Yass Valley Council’s general manager uninterrupted since the departure of Kerry McMurray in 2008.
He knows and accepts that his employment depends on councillors’ approval.
“Under the Local Government Act, the general manager is employed by the Council,” Mr Rowe explained this week.
“It is up to Council to monitor the performance of the general manager and determine as to whether he is the appropriate person to deliver the aspirations of Council.”
