Charlottetown Mayor Clifford Lee says the majority of City Council has decided that Peter Kelly will continue on in his role as Charlottetown’s Chief Administrative Officer.
Lee says Council met on two occasions regarding the Westlock County Alberta Municipal Inspection report and Kelly’s employment status. That report suggested Kelly exceeded his authority as Westlock CAO and contravened the province’s Municipal Government Act by negotiating a land lease and authorizing site improvements to develop a municipal property without the authority of a resolution from the council.
Mayor Lee says there was extensive debate and discussion, and both meetings involved an outside legal advisor. He says that based on those discussions and legal advice, the decision was made that Kelly will continue on as CAO in Charlottetown.
Lee says the report out of Westlock provides no justification to Charlottetown for dismissal or disciplinary action that would be supported in the court system, according to the legal guidance obtained. He adds that the majority of Council did not wish to expose tax payers to a potential lawsuit that legal advice suggests would not be successful in defending.