QUEANBEYAN Council general manager Gary Chapman says he hasn't ruled out a return to work in the coming months, but will first need time to recover from a stress-related illness he says was brought about by his work on Council.
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"I'm currently on sick leave, and I suppose the events over the last 12 months more than anything else has affected my health. I'm not well, and I'm taking off time to recover," Mr Chapman said on Thursday.
Mr Chapman took an extended period of stress leave in late August, and former Queanbeyan general manager Hugh Percy took over the top Council job in September on a locum, or stand-in basis.
He said the leave had nothing to do with the recent backdated rates saga which prompted some heated public criticism of Council staff from affected ratepayers, but was instead an internal matter sparked by recent events at Council.
"I didn't take it [leave] by choice," Mr Chapman said. "It's nothing to do with the rating issue- it's been an issue that's been [a result of] the events at council over a 12-month period, which in itself was quite stressful," he said.
"I'm talking to doctors quite regularly and I'll be guided by them. I'm just keen to let things take their course. I'm at an age now where I know it's important to look after your health these days rather than anything else.
"I just want to get well, and when I'm ready I'll return back to work," he said.
Some uncertainty had surrounded the general manager's position after minutes of a closed session meeting of Council revealed this week that Council may engage in industrial mediation with Mr Chapman.
In the minutes of a September 10 Council meeting published on Council's website this week, Councillors resolved to enter mediation with Mr Chapman. As part of that process, the minutes state that "the mediator be authorised to negotiate a settlement in accordance with the Contract of Employment parameters and the NSW Local Government Act."
However a council spokesperson said these minutes were published online by mistake, and said another resolution of Council made the following week had rescinded that decision. Council wouldn't comment further on the matter.
"This is a staff matter and Council will not be making any comment," a spokesperson said.