By Scott MacLeod
HAMILTON - A senior Hamilton City Council manager who quit amid claims he abused car privileges is denying the charges and has been offered $30,000 compensation by the council.
Mike Martin, who managed Hamilton City Council's many community services, resigned on Friday after chief executive Tony Marryatt claimed he
had broken rules by taking a council car home.
But Mr Martin denied yesterday "any impropriety regarding the unauthorised use of a council vehicle" and said he would take his case to the Employment Tribunal.
Mr Marryatt said he had agreed with Mr Martin that $30,000 compensation would be paid once he lodged a grievance claim.
The money was for the hurt and humiliation caused by media speculation about his quitting. It was now irrelevant whether Mr Martin had broken the car rules because he had resigned.
Mr Marryatt said that he had accepted an immediate resignation, rather than the three months' notice usually needed.
The resignation threatened to grow into a public spat yesterday. Mr Martin said he was extremely disappointed with comments Mr Marryatt had made to the media about his quitting.
"The comments were made after confidential discussions," he said. It was unclear whether he would seek more than the agreed $30,000 when he went to the tribunal.
Mr Marryatt had earlier alleged that use of the car was serious misconduct and he had been thinking of sacking Mr Martin. Yesterday he repeated those comments.
"At the end of the day he resigned because I was considering dismissal," he said.
Mr Martin was one of four council managers who had power second only to the chief executive. His salary of $125,000 to $130,000 included $12,000 for using his own car, rather than those supplied by the council.
He managed the city's libraries, museums, pools, parks, theatres and a host of other services.
Mayor Russ Rimmington said a man in Mr Martin's job needed to set an example to other staff.
"He was aware of the car policy and he chose his own course of action," he said.
Mr Rimmington said Mr Martin's job had been difficult. He had shown the skill to deal with the growing number of volunteers working with the council, but it was time to move on and find a good replacement.
The mayor said he hoped the $30,000 payout would smooth any problems and stop claims for more compensation.
Deputy mayor Brian Impson said he was surprised when he heard of the resignation. He had not known of the car allegations.
