Marsascala mayor moves to oust executive secretary
The mayor of Marsascala is planning to move a motion to remove the council’s executive secretary due to disagreement between them.
Mario Calleja confirmed he had proposed the motion to remove Joseph Caruana from his post of executive secretary.
A vote on the motion could be taken at a committee meeting today depending on whether there would be enough time on the busy agenda, explained Mr Calleja, who was elected on the Labour Party ticket.
“There are disagreements between us. We have not been on speaking terms for a long time and can’t work together,” Mr Calleja said yesterday, adding he did not wish to comment further because the motion had still to be discussed.
When contacted, Mr Caruana said the proposal for his removal was driven by the fact that he ensured everything was done by the book. “I’ve been executive secretary of this council for almost eight years... I always insisted things be carried out according to law. It seems he (the mayor) is interpreting this as a personal attack... It seems he does not like that I do things the right way,” Mr Caruana said.
He said Mr Calleja’s proposed motion was forwarded to him, as executive secretary, on October 20 after it was seconded by Nationalist Party councillor John Baptist Camilleri.
According to local council procedure, a motion has first to go through the executive secretary in order to include it on the agenda so that the councillors – nine in this case – can have their say.
The executive secretary is the executive, administrative and financial head of the council whose duties include preparing the agenda for the council meeting.
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ALFRED BONELLO
Nov 17th 2009, 17:43
...
So that is the question ?
This issue has just reached me with a shock.. ..
What is the basis of this mayor’s outcry ?.......
I know Mr Caruana outside his official capacity and judging him even if only by his words and deeds, is enough for anybody to select him amongst the prime of responsible and accountable citizens. No doubt, leading the executive business of a significantly large Local Council, necessitates a person of extensive respectability and uprightness and I can only picture Mr Caruana’s constant endeavor striving for things to be run conscientiously as much as legitimately.
Dear Mr Mayor, I would think it over and over before thrashing my unadulterated right hand .
Sylvia Xerri
Oct 30th 2009, 18:20
A Mayor with a heart of gold. Before leaving for his much publicized mission in Peru our beloved Mayor wants to put the secretary out of a job just for doing his work to the letter . Surely the Department ought to investigate the allegations made and if need be take action against the Mayor for hindering correctness . After all we are dealing with public funds and thousands of euro are at stake. One has to be VIGILANT with eyes open on the way tenders are being awarded. Well done Mr. Caruana.
Ray Fava
Oct 30th 2009, 12:37
Having read this article, i do not regret my decison not to vote for the election of the Marsascala Local Council. I have always voted Labour and this is the first time that I refrained from voting. I have absolutely no confidence in the Council headed by the present Mayor.
If Dr. Joseph Muscat is not going to ensure that Labour lead Local Councils are not run properly and with the utmost porbity, he can say goodbye to his hopes of being elected into government following the next general elections. If people want to see how the country will be run under a Labour Government, they will first take a good look at the Labour lead Local Councils.
Marsascala's leaves much to be desired. To the Executive Secrteary I say take the Local Council to Court; fight for your job and expose the mismanagement which you are being forced to administer. If what you have stated is true, you have my admiration and support.
So long as the present mayor continues to form part of the Local Council, i will continue to refrain from exercising my vote in favour of Labour in Local Council Elections.
R. Magri
Oct 29th 2009, 19:12
So the Marsascala Mayor decided to get rid of his secretary simply by putting forward a motion seconded by a PN councillor because they are not on good terms. The real reasons behind all this as expressed by the council’s secretary is that the Mayor is impeding his secretary from doing his job correctly, respecting all regulations and abiding by law. I think the Mayor should go instead for trying to hassle his secretary in doing things against the law. Surely the Department for the local councils should intervene
Paul Barrett
Oct 29th 2009, 17:12
A situation like that outlined in this article where two very important people in an organisation have a total breakdown in co-operation with each other is the very worst that can possibly happen both for the Council and the population reliant on that Council.
C. Gauci
Oct 29th 2009, 13:02
I do not reside in Marsascala but I am following this unique and interested matter. I know very well the conclusion and intention of the motion as presented by the Marsascala Labour Mayor and seconded by a PN Councillor. Local Councils should be scrapped, they are all the same. Well done Mr. Caruana, the council’s secretary. You are absolutely right in putting your foot down. Do not bother what your Mayor thinks or says, keep on doing your job. May Local Councils have more Secretaries who are capable enough to say no to abuses? Keep it up.