Can a county manager be sacked?

Celticfire

Just wondering if a county manager can be removed from their position if the people of the county have no faith in him/her? What would be the process of removal? Could it be put foreward by councellors or would it have to come from central government?

Or is it a job for life that allows you to f*** uk the county as much as you please?

jbkenn

Celticfire wrote:

Or is it a job for life that allows you to f*** uk the county as much as you please?

In a word..... Yup

jbkenn

Celticfire

There has to be some sort of way to remove them?

Cork

I think It is not possible to remove them.

Most local authorities could provide better services - motor tax, franchise and higher education grants need to be centralised and taken away from local authorities.

Celticfire

It is not so much a problem with the local authority but the person at the helm who is steering straight for the rocks.......... :eek:

gregos

LOCAL GOVERNMENT (OFFICERS) REGULATIONS, 1943


31. (1) After complying with the provisions of sub-articles (3) and (4) the local authority may remove from office with the consent of the Minister, the holder of an office.


(2) On the removal of a person from office under this article the local authority may with the consent of the Minister appoint such person to another office to which the Act of 1926 does not apply or to another office to which the said Act does apply if such appointment can be made under sub-section (1) of section 5 of the said Act.


(3) Before applying to the Minister for his consent to the removal from office under this article of the holder of an office the local authority shall give to such holder written notice stating—


(a) its intention so to apply ;


(b) the reasons for such application ;


(c) that the Minister will consider any representations in relation to such removal such holder may send to the Minister before the expiration of seven days after the giving of the notice ; and


(d) where the local authority proposes to appoint such holder to a new office particulars of such proposal.


(4) An application by a local authority to the Minister for his consent to the removal from office under this article of the holder of an office shall state the reasons for such application and where the local authority proposes to appoint such holder to a new office particulars of such proposal.

johnos

I'm quite sure that if a county manager or their urban equivalent isn't playing ball with the local developer/business interests, a way would be found.
But if you mean being got rid of for neglecting their responsibilities to the community, environment etc., I doubt it. That would be tantamount to true democracy, and we Irish have never been comfortable with that.

Victor

Celticfire wrote:

Or is it a job for life

No, its a seven year contract, which I don't think is renewable (you can go on to another city/county though). The same with first secretaries in governemnt departments.

Its to stop the mandarins setting up fiefdoms.

Celticfire

Victor wrote:

No, its a seven year contract,

Its to stop the mandarins setting up fiefdoms.

Interesting, It would explain wht the individual has their own agenda that seems to be suiting some people, but funnily enough not the ordinary folk..

Jesus Trash Can

I think you'll find the most effective way to get rid of a county manager is to drive to the council offices sitting on top of a tank with a megephone shouting "return to your homes, the provisional government has everything under control!!"

foxybrowne

County managers are handy ways for councillors to pass the buck. If they really cared, they'd sort it out.

foxybrowne

Actually, sorry, thats a bit harsh. But there has defo been too many reserved powers been removed from elected officials.

Victor

I've no idea if this is relevant to the OPs case, but quite "interesting".

http://www.rte.ie/news/2005/1003/longford.html

Court order over County Manager post

03 October 2005 17:13

The High Court has made a temporary order to stop the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government from appointing a new County Manager to Longford County Council.

The order will remain in place until Thursday when the matter comes back before the High Court again.

Michael Killeen has been the council's County Manager since 1977 and will reach the retirement age of 65 tomorrow. However, the council voted unanimously last April to extend his term of office until June 2009.
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Today's order restrains Dick Roche and the Government from taking any steps to appoint another County Manager.

Roddy Horan, who is representing the council, said that the Local Government Act entitles it to apply for an extension of time.

He said the minister had sought to appoint a temporary County Manager from midnight tonight.

Mr Horan contended that there is no pressing reason for the minister and the department to insist that the present County Manager retires.

edanto

About the original post - it appears that a vote on the council is one way to remove a Manager.

oasis.gov.ie wrote:

If a Council wishes to suspend or remove a County or City Manager, a resolution must be passed by the Council. At least two-thirds of the Councillors must vote for the resolution after 7 days notice. The Minister then sanctions the removal of the County or City Manager.

About today's case, if the whole council is behind the Manager, I wonder why the govt tried to put in someone else. Longford County Council has 21 members of which 11 are FG. Would the govt have had any motivation for trying to get a political appointee in? Do the Managers have many 'executive powers'?

Does anyone know if, in practice, there is ever much friction between govt appointed Managers and councils with an opposition majority?

Thomond Pk

The provisions of Section 25 of the Local Government Act 1941 can be used to invoke ministerial revocation of job title following a statutory local inquiry on the following grounds:

1> Unfitness to hold office

2> Failure to carry out orders or implement statutory laws or regulations, (all planning authorities have decisions overturned by the Bord when breaches of development plans occur)

3> Misconduct

bonkey

Victor wrote:

No, its a seven year contract, which I don't think is renewable (you can go on to another city/county though).

The article you posted would seem to put paid to that non-renewable thing. Unless my math is skewy, 1977 is more than years ago.

jc