The planning authority would like its watchdog auditor Joe Falzon to stay on for a transition period in the wake of changes to the post.

Planning authority CEO Ian Stafrace said yesterday that he only got to know that the audit officer’s role would be transferred to a new environment commissioner last week after Mr Falzon was informed by the Ombudsman.

“The Ombudsman’s office informed me on Thursday (last week) after he had told Mr Falzon. I immediately proposed retaining the Mepa auditor for a transition period to allow for a smooth handover,” Dr Stafrace said.

He took umbrage at Mr Falzon’s comments that somebody from the Malta Environment and Planning Authority should have informed him that his office would stop functioning so soon.

Mr Falzon was irked because nobody “had the decency” to inform him in advance that his post would terminate this week. He was informed by the Ombudsman that his office would stop functioning when the post of environment commissioner is created.

Subsequently, Ombudsman Joseph Said Pullicino expressed surprise at Mr Falzon’s public outburst, saying the conversation was confidential.

Dr Stafrace said the Ombudsman had welcomed the proposal to retain Mr Falzon for a transition period and, although the legal notice setting up the new post had been published, the authority’s audit office had not yet been legally abolished.

“Over the past few months, I had discussions with Mr Falzon about the possibility of there being a transition period if he was not chosen for the post,” Dr Stafrace said, insisting Mepa had nothing to do with the appointment of the new watchdog.

The audit office will be replaced by an environment commissioner in the Ombudsman’s office.

The appointment has to be decided jointly by the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader. The two have 15 days to agree on a name and if they fail to do so the onus falls on the Ombudsman.

It is unclear whether the environment commissioner, who will be announced tomorrow, was the Ombudsman’s choice. Dr Said Pullicino has promised to give details of the process at a press conference.

Green groups have voiced concern at the removal of Mr Falzon, who they regard as “a person of unparalleled honesty and objectivity” and “the only person the public could turn to, to expose the repeated irregularities of the Mepa machine”.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com