It's been a tumultuous 24 hours for Lismore City Council - a new mayor has been elected and the general manager, shown the door. Shelley Oldham told NBN News today she was "blindsided" by the move, which could lead to a more than quarter-of-a-million-dollar payout. by Lachlan Grant | NBN News-News, Sport & Weather
Lismore City Council has lurched from bad to worse and it is time for the Local Government Minister to step in an appoint an administrator. The culture of the organisation is in serious chaos after the council s general manager, Shelley Oldham, was sacked on Tuesday night. In total, three councillors - including the mayor - and now the general manager have left the Titanic, in the past six or seven months. While the remaining councillors bravely play on and tell the general public to remain calm, this council is in serious crisis. We can t afford to wait until the results of the next election in September to sort this out.
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Subscriber only After the sudden and mysterious sacking of former general manager Shelley Oldham, Lismore City Council is on the radar of the NSW Government. A spokesman for the Office of Local Government confirmed they were aware of, and watching, the council s movements. The Office of Local Government is closely monitoring Lismore City Council, he said. The governing body of a council is responsible for appointing a general manager, for monitoring performance and where necessary terminating their employment. Lismore City Council has exercised its right to terminate the employment of general manager Shelley Oldham. Ultimately it is a matter for the governing body of the council to determine the method of termination under the employment contract and meet any conditions including termination payments.