Pietà council secretary objects to job termination motion

The executive secretary of Pietà local council yesterday filed a judicial protest challenging the council from proceeding with its plans to terminate his employment.

John O'Dea filed the protest in the First Hall of the Civil Court against the council and against Sunny Attard, Jessie Fabri and Anthony Camilleri.

Mr O'Dea told the court he was employed as council secretary on a fixed term basis. His employment was due to expire on May 31, 2008. On May 4, Mr Attard moved that the council start procedures to terminate Mr O'Dea's contract of employment within three months. Ms Fabri seconded the motion.

Mr O'Dea said he had already warned the council members not to terminate his employment as there was no valid legal reasons for so doing. If his contract were terminated, he would be entitled to receive half the salary he would have received throughout the remaining contractual period.

Mr Attard, Ms Fabri and Mr Camilleri had also been warned that the motion was based on political partisanship, discrimination and political revenge.

This fact exposed the local council to payment of damages, and the individual council members would be personally liable for these damages, Mr O'Dea submitted, adding that Mr Attard had previously seconded a motion in terms of which the local council had employed him and had also voted in favour of the executive secretary being awarded a performance bonus.

In conclusion, Mr O'Dea called upon the three council members not to continue with the termination of employment proceedings and held them liable in damages.

Lawyer Andrew Borg Cardona signed the protest.