ONE writer asks the mayor for a yes or no to six questions following the sacking of the council's GM David Keenan.

This is just one of our letters this week:

A simple yes or no, Mayor Longland

I DO not always agree with the comments of serial letter writer Terry Sharples. However I very much admire the role he has assumed regarding the Tweed Shire Council.

Mr Sharples has taken on the role of "keeping the bastards honest" .

His letter concerning the dismissal of David Keenan is very revealing.

No wonder Mayor Longland has so furiously refused to disclose the background to this disgraceful episode.

No wonder Cr Byrne has been threatened with code of conduct charges if she dares to be open and honest with the Tweed community.

But, hang on; maybe Mr Sharples account is not right?

Should we not hear from Mayor Longland?

So, here Mr Longland is your opportunity to either confirm or repudiate the version of events as described by Mr Sharples.

Quite easy really, just answer yes or no to the following questions.

1. Did the NSW Dept Local Government instruct Mr Keenan to engage an independent legal expert to investigate possible code of conduct issues?

2. Did Mr Keenan do so, after a tender process to select a suitable independent legal expert?

3. Did that suitable independent legal expert conclude that there were grounds to institute a code of conduct enquiry concerning certain individuals?

4. Were the individuals concerned yourself, former GM Mike Raynor and planning director Vince Connell?

5. Did Mr Keenan commence proceedings to have such an enquiry carried out?

Of course, if you fail to respond to this request the voters of Tweed Shire will draw their own conclusions from your silence.

Clinton Beisler, Oxley Cove

Still questions to be answered

FOLLOWING on Terry Sharple's excellent letter (DN 15.3.14) I would like to make some observations on the sacking of David Keenan.

The following quote is from a reply received from Ross Woodward, CEO of the Division of Local Government (DLG) concerning the visit by two officers of the DLG to the Tweed.

"The officers spent two days interviewing councillors, the former General Manager, senior staff and members of the community for the purpose of making this assessment. A consistent picture emerged from these interviews of the circumstances that led to the termination of the former General Manager's employment."

The implication of this statement is that all groups interviewed presented a consistent picture.

Nothing could be further from the truth. The former GM, the three councillors not involved in the sacking and community groups would have presented a very different picture to that of Crs Longland, Armstrong, Bagnall and Milne and I suspect some senior staff.

The fact that the CEO of the DLG has made such a misleading statement doesn't inspire confidence in the whole process.

Much has been made of the Leda allegations against some councillors and staff as being the reason for the sacking of Keenan.

I believe that there were several other issues.

The overreaction by Longland to the inclusion of councillors in the random drug and alcohol testing is extremely puzzling.

His argument that councillors would not be able to have a glass of wine with dinner is an absolute nonsense.

Alcohol is allowed up to the appropriate legal limits.

I believe that Keenan's attempts to bring some reform to the structure of council, his identification of some long held costly work practices and the contracts of some senior staff which will give them large payouts, at their present rate of pay, for any untaken sick leave during their employment at Tweed Shire Council, was also a contributing factor to getting rid of Keenan.

There are still many unanswered questions from this whole sorry saga.

Colin Brooks, Kynnumboon

Who is running the Tweed?

EVERYONE has heard the jokes about Taswegians having two heads, but after this latest election result where they ousted the Labor/Green parties who combined have crippled Tassie, business just does not want to invest there.

I think the mantle for two headedness (not sure that's a real word) must now go to the Tweed/Richmond area. Look what happened at our last Federal Election.

Justine Elliot got 24,000 votes and Matthew Fraser got 28,000 votes. The Greens preferences got Justine over the line, and we now have a representative in opposition beholden to the Greens.

Let's all be very clear on this: if Justine does not do exactly as the Greens tell her, she won't be winning the next election.

From now on I will not say that Tasmanians have two heads, that moniker now belongs to Tweedwegians.

I can't wait to get down to the pub and pat my Labor loving mates on the head and then on the head.

George Kelly, Terranora

Councillor should abstain

CONGRATULATIONS to the Daily News editor Mikarla Marsden in her editorial of March 15 relating to the conflict of interest between Cr Milne and Leda Holdings/Bob Ell. You are spot on.

Cr Milne might like to refer to the Independent Commission Against Corruption website. Cr Milne will find that a conflict of interest occurs when the private interests of a public official come into conflict with their duty to act in the public interest. Conflicts of interest are particularly relevant where the public official has a decision-making role.

The need to manage conflicts of interest is based on two propositions.

One is that people in public positions must avoid situations in which private interests can affect their public duties.

The other is that situations where there is the appearance of a conflict must also be avoided, if only because protestations of innocence and integrity may be impossible to judge.

This is not a situation where Cr Milne can claim ignorance of the law or her public responsibilities.

The facts are there.

Cr Milne should immediately abstain from any further council discussions and voting on Leda Developments and Bob Ell.

If she refuses, the mayor and other councillors should immediately take action that is open to them.

Gary Matthews, Kingscliff