After a careful legal investigation and a two-hour meeting, Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council has made the decisive move of dismissing its former general manager, Allen Dwyer.
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Mr Dwyer was sacked last Wednesday night, taking effect the following day, with no payment in lieu of notice.
The dismissal ends five months of turmoil surrounding Mr Dwyer, but questions remain about the dismissal and the reasons for it.
Mayor Abb McAlister declined to say whether any payout was made, repeating only that Mr Dwyer had "not been given any payment for notice".
Cr McAlister also declined to say what rent, if any, Mr Dwyer had been paying at a council house as part of his contract, or to outline what information had been provided by solicitors.
Mr Dwyer was suspended last November on full pay of $249,864 plus car, and was also allegedly living in a council house.
His suspension followed reports about use of a corporate credit card in a previous role as general manager at Hay Shire Council.
Following investigations, CGRC decided in February to appoint a Sydney law firm to look at his employment in further detail.
Late in March, the firm advised it had found "a series of breaches of the Local Government Act", and Mr Dwyer was asked to explain why he should not be dismissed.
He was given two weeks to respond, and his response was received on April 12.
Cr McAlister said he would "leave it to people to draw their own conclusions" as to whether councillors considered Mr Dwyer's response adequate.
He said the suspension and dismissal had taken a lot of time and energy, and he was now looking forward to the council being freed up to do "more of the things councils are supposed to do".
The mayor's sentiments were echoed by Cr Charlie Sheahan, who said Mr Dwyer's appointment, extended by an administrator before the council was elected, was an "inheritance from the amalgamation".
"The amalgamation is now well and truly behind us and I'm looking forward to a fresh start and getting on with it," Cr Sheahan said.
The council will now invite three recruitment companies to submit proposals for the recruitment of a general manager. Phil McMurray, acting general manager since Mr Dwyer was suspended, will continue in this role.