Kyogle Council sacks GM

By BARRY CHEADLE

staredit@northernstar.com.au

KYOGLE Council has sacked its general manager, Ken Davies.

Mayor Ernie Bennett yesterday confirmed that Mr Davies' appointment was terminated last Thursday.

He said the council had no further comment to make.

However, when asked if the council would move to appoint a new general manager, Cr Bennett said the council had every confidence in acting general manager Arthur Piggott.

He said the council would 'look at' the situation when it met after the Christmas break.

Mr Davies was unavailable for comment.

The former general manager was appointed in 1998 and was contracted until May 2008.

He was the subject of an investigation by the State Government, but when the investigation came up for discussion at a council meeting last October the council voted to gag debate on the issue.

Mr Davies had been criticised for being based in Brisbane and commuting to Kyogle for as little as two days a week.

Prior to his time at the Kyogle Council, Mr Davies was elected as the Labor member for Mundingburra in northern Queensland in 1989.

He served three terms, being re-elected in 1995. However, the poll was overturned and Mr Davies was dumped as the Labor candidate because of fears that he faced bankruptcy, which could force a second by-election.

Mr Davies ran as an independent candidate and placed the Liberal candidate ahead of the Labor candidate in his preferences. The Labor candidate lost, giving the National Party government in Queensland.