We’re hearing more about how Connolly allegedly restructured sections of the council without consultation or due process – this time about the circumstances surrounding the termination of senior staff member Bruce Mills.
After Connolly terminated the employment of Bryan Hynes in October 2023, Mills temporarily took up Hynes’ role – executive director of property and place – until further notice.
Weeks later, in November 2023, Mills and Connolly had a one-on-one meeting. Counsel Assisting is alleging Connolly told Mills in that meeting that she would disband his directorate and create a 12-month role while the restructure was occurring.
Connolly allegedly told Mills that whilst he was welcome to act in that role, she could not guarantee this position would exist after the restructure, and that if he accepted it, he would be forfeiting his entitlements.
Davidson asks Connolly whether she was aware HR boss Brendan Clifton told Mills that he “wanted his redundancy confirmed by Christmas”.
“Was it the case that the formal consultation … didn’t give Mills a realistic opportunity to change the outcome?” Davidson asked. Earlier, Connolly had said that it was “pretty rare” that the “intended outcome changes as a result of consultation”.
“People are usually told that their position will be made redundant. I can’t recall any instances where you’ve done a consultation like this, and there has been a proposed redundancy of position that hasn’t occurred.”
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