Information St Paul’s Bay local council gathered about an employee’s alleged attempt to circulate a petition aimed at having three disabled workers fired has been submitted to the authorities.

Mayor Ray Tabone said that, following a meeting on Friday evening, the council decided to refer the matter to the Department of Local Government for investigation.

Details have been scant but it appears that the petition was meaning to get rid of these people specifically because they are disabled.

The department will review statements made by several people who worked at the council about the incident and decide the way forward, he said.

The incident, which took place about four weeks ago, centres around claims that a council employee planned to circulate a petition to get rid of two women and a man with intellectual disabilities. They were assigned to the council within the framework of an employment scheme, helping out in various jobs both at the council itself and also at the day centre located in the same block. Their duties include assisting in the day centre’s kitchen and helping sort out council paperwork.

Mr Tabone asked the executive secretary to take statements from a number of people who worked at the council to understand what happened. These statements have now been passed on to the department for more independent scrutiny.

The matter is also being investigated by the National Commission Persons with Disability, which is looking into whether legal action should be taken against the person involved. The commission had offered to train local council staff on how to work with disabled people.

During Friday’s council meeting, the council decided to take up the offer.