KNYSNA NEWS - At a special council meeting on Tuesday, August 30, Knysna municipal manager Grant Easton was suspended, pending disciplinary proceedings. Easton himself was not present at the meeting.
Although the entire meeting was originally planned to be closed to the public, on Monday afternoon, August 29, an agenda was distributed with two items to be open to the public. The report on the findings of an independent investigation into the complaints of alleged misconduct against Easton and consequent discussion remained an in-council matter. Carl Mattheus, manager: administration, was appointed as acting municipal manager.
The other two items on the agenda reflected poorly on Easton’s performance and placed councillors in a difficult position as they were required to vote on matters of urgency without the necessary administrative input Easton should have been able to provide.
The two items for consideration were: the appointment of an acting director: planning and development for another three months and the appointment of an acting CFO.
Following the council’s discussion surrounding these points, it remains unclear as to why Easton did not make any progress on these appointments, thus forcing the municipality to make temporary appointments. It was impossible to gain the necessary clarification from him in his absence.
The previous director: planning and development left the employ of the municipality on May 20. On May 31, Marlene Boyce was appointed as acting director “for not more than three months or until the vacant post is filled” by council resolution.
Easton’s report to council stated, “Unfortunately to date, the vacant position of acting director: planning and development has not yet been advertised and the three month term of the current acting director: planning and development will terminate on 31 August 2016. It is thus necessary for council to appoint an acting director: planning and development for a further three month period, as contemplated in the Act [see below].”
Deputy mayor Peter Myers (DA) said that he did not accept the (now suspended) municipal manager’s discussion point as it stood. He also said that he found the lack of expediency unacceptable and that Easton should be called to account. He proposed that the position be filled as a matter of urgency.
In terms of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act, 2000, Section 56(1)(a)(ii), “a municipal council must appoint, after consultation with the municipal manager, an acting manager (director) directly accountable to the municipal manager. Section 56(1)(c) of the abovementioned Act states that an acting manager may not be appointed for a period exceeding three months without the MEC for local government’s approval to extend the period of appointment to a further period that does not exceed three months”.
“[a] That the appointment of an acting director: planning and development for another three months, be noted;
[b] That Ms Marlene Boyce be appointed as acting director: planning and development for a further three month period, terminating on 30 November 2016;
[c] That the MEC for local government be requested to extend the period of the current acting director: planning and development for a further three months, ending at 30 November 2016 or until the vacant post is filled, whichever period is sooner.”
ANC Councillor Victor Molosi said that no council resolution reflecting a permanent appointment had been made, and it was therefore unfair to blame the administration. He recommended that a process plan be approved by council.
Executive mayor Eleanore Bouw-Spies said that the onus was on the municipal manager to bring the vacancy to council, and that this process should already have been dealt with. She seconded Myers’ proposal that the planning and development post be filled as a matter of urgency.
Following a discussion relating to Boyce’s qualifications, with various questions from ANC councillors as to the skills and qualifications of people working within the planning and development department who may be suitable candidates, Bouw-Spies recommended that the ANC make a counterproposal should they be unhappy with Boyce’s appointment. No counterproposal was made and Boyce’s contract was extended for a further three months.
The CFO, Pariksha Gobrie, resigned and left the municipal service on July 24.
According to Easton’s report on the matter, he contacted provincial treasury, provincial local government, and all municipal managers in the Western Cape as well as Mubesko (a company that specialises, among other things, in sourcing municipal finance officials) in an attempt to fill the position. None of the CVs received provided a suitably qualified candidate, the report states.
“The municipal manager of George municipality has suggested seconding his head of internal audit, Mr Louis Fourie, on a one-and-a-half to two days a week if required and as circumstances dictate,” says Easton's report. He recommended that as Fourie is competent, qualified and has the necessary experience, he be appointed on a part time (month-to-month) basis and that the support of the MEC for local government and the George municipality be obtained.
After much deliberation, including the question as to whether or not any of the potential appointments recommended by Easton were in fact legal, it was decided, after consultation with the provincial government, that Fourie be seconded to Knysna until council could appoint a suitably qualified acting CFO or make a permanent appointment. The ANC accepted this as an interim measure.
Prior to the commencement of the in-council item, Molosi proposed that the item be opened to the public as the issue surrounding Easton’s alleged misconduct was already in the public domain. Bouw-Spies proposed that the details of the investigation take place in-council as the results could not be anticipated. It went to a vote and the public and the media were asked to leave the council chambers.
According to a press statement by the municipality, “Knysna executive mayor Eleanore Bouw-Spies said this process will not be played out in public or the media, and requested the public to let the process run its course. The council also decided that in order to protect the interests of all the parties involved, including the municipal manager, no further details will be made public at this stage.”
Further investigation into the matter showed that to date, the investigation into Easton’s alleged misconduct has cost a significant R816 472.87.
Grant Easton comments: When asked for comment, Easton stated that he certainly agrees that the process should not be played out in the media, however in the light of the massive number of queries he is receiving, he does wish to confirm that he has received a letter from the acting MM stating that he has been suspended.
He wishes to place on record that, like the rest of the town, he is currently in the dark as to the reasons for his suspension and the nature of the charges.
To date he has not been furnished with either a copy of the report from the investigator or any charges or council resolutions.
Suspended Knysna municipal manager Grant Easton.
ARTICLE: CANDICE LUDICK, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD JOURNALIST
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