Parramatta Council sacks chief executive Mark Stapleton
City of Parramatta councillors voted on Wednesday night to sack their suspended chief executive Mark Stapleton.
Mr Stapleton had been suspended on full pay since September, following the publication of a series of articles in the Herald raising questions about his resume and the way he was hired for the key position.
The decision to sack Mr Stapleton was made under a clause of his contract which requires him to be paid 38 weeks' salary – bringing an end to a hugely disruptive and costly affair for the Sydney council.
The council already had to pay about $200,000 to lawyers to conduct an investigation into Mr Stapleton. The investigation was presented to councillors at a closed meeting earlier this month, and has not been released.
And the council has also had to pay to defend its position in court proceedings initiated by Mr Stapleton. Mr Stapleton on Monday lost his bid in the Supreme Court to restrain the council from sacking him.
In a statement on Wednesday night, a council spokeswoman said: “This decision was taken after careful consideration.
“Council would like to reassure the community that it will continue its commitment to providing the highest level of service and represent their interests whilst achieving great outcomes for our City.”
Before being appointed chief executive, Mr Stapleton worked for the council for a year as its director of property.
Of a five-person committee of councillors set up last year to select a chief executive, Liberals Ben Barrak and Steven Issa, and Labor’s Pierre Esber, pushed for his hiring. Two councillors, independent mayor Andrew Wilson and Labor’s Donna Davis, voted against him.
He was ultimately selected on a contentious 8-7 vote among the 15 councillors.