The termination of Dr Eddie Jackson last week means Liverpool has had four chief executive officers in the past six years, says veteran councillor Peter Harle.
“This a major concern and as far as I was concerned Dr Jackson was doing a great job,’’ says the leader of Liverpool Community Independents Team, who’s been on council since 2008 and voted against termination.
At its first meeting since the election, Liverpool Council voted last Wednesday to tear up the five year contract of Dr Jackson.
The 6-5 vote was taken in a confidential part of the meeting after Mayor Ned Mannoun tabled an urgent mayoral minute.
Both Cr Mannoun and Dr Jackson (pictured) declined to comment on the vote.
Nathan Hagarty, the Labor Party leader on council, issued this statement after the meeting:
“I thank Eddie for his many years of service and dedication to Council and the people of Liverpool.
“He brought many strengths to the organisation through his unique and deep experience working around the world.
“I especially appreciated his ability to link the big picture stuff to the individual lives of our residents.
“While I’m disappointed with Eddie’s exit, I respect that this was the will of a majority of Councillors.
“I look forward to working closely with the Mayor and my fellow Councillors to appoint a new CEO.’’
Dr Eddie Jackson was CEO for much of the past two years, following the departure of Kiersten Fishburn.
He was CEO in an acting capacity for around one of those two years before he was appointed to the position fulltime.
He has been at Liverpool Council for seven years in total.
Of Irish background, Dr Jackson was the former CEO of the Belfast Local Strategy Partnership, which was established under the European Union Peace II program (2003-2008) to address the twin challenges of reconciliation and regeneration in Belfast.
The role required working closely with Belfast’s politicians, business and community leaders, including paramilitary leaders, in formulating public policy and programs to address the city’s signature issue of sectarianism and in trying to consolidate peace at street, community and city levels.
But why? Dodgy stuff afoot. How much did this sacking cost the ratepayers? Can’t wait for an Aministrator.
What? This seems to have been done on the quiet. King Neddie has learnt nothing in the last 5 years. I hope ICAC is watching.