WYNDHAM Council remains tight-lipped about the controversial departures of two of its senior directors.
Council chief executive Kerry Thompson refused to discuss the circumstances surrounding the shock resignations, but on Monday it was confirmed community development director Bernie Cronin won’t depart the council until July next year.
As reported by the Weekly, Mr Cronin and sustainable development director Greg Aplin resigned from the council after Mr Aplin was accused of drunken behaviour at the Legends on the Lawn concert in March.
The Weekly understands Mr Aplin was cleared of any wrongdoing.
Mr Aplin, who worked for the council for 30 years, was immediately suspended while an investigation took place.
He resigned on June 28.
His job remains vacant, nine weeks before council elections.
Ms Thompson has repeatedly directed all questions about the resignations to Mr Cronin and Mr Aplin.
Mr Aplin has signed a confidentially agreement with the council and Mr Cronin is overseas.
Councillors were also unable to shed light on the resignations.
Five councillors refused to comment, while Crs Adele Hegedich and John Menegazzo did not return calls.
Mayor Kim McAliney said she could not comment because operational matters had to be directed to the chief executive.
Ms Thompson said that under a Wyndham Council policy, she was responsible for all staffing matters. “Councillors are therefore not in a position to comment or be involved in matters relating to staff,” she said.
Cr Marcel Mahfoud told the Weekly councillors had recently been advised of the departures and believed they had been due to personal reasons.
Cr Glenn Goodfellow said he did not know why Mr Aplin had resigned.
