Local Government C.E.O.: Town Council Will Resolve Rift

For the better part of two weeks, the Dangriga Town Council has been in the news because of an ongoing rift between the Mayor, Robert Mariano and the Town Administrator, Austin Petillo. Petillo reportedly got wind of a missing file for an F – One Fifty Vehicle from the records clerk. Petillo wrote to the employee who was said to be responsible for the missing file and inquired about it. But then there were instructions from the mayor’s office to the council’s security that they should not allow Petillo back on the compound. Then there’s the other side, which claims that Petillo was having problems with some of the employees. When the mayor intervened to resolve the matter, it is reported that Petillo got upset and walked off the job. And when Mariano instructed that Petillo could only be allowed back on the compound after he called the mayor to discuss the matter, there was a report that he was banned from entering the premises. Today, News Five contacted the C.E.O. of the Ministry of Local Government, which is responsible for municipal governments. He said that the dispute is one that the Dangriga Town Council will have to resolve on its own, but that the administrator, Austin Petillo, is already back at work.

 

Valentino Shal, C.E.O., Ministry of Local Government

“There are different roles that the mayor plays on the tongue administration administrator plays, and I think they need to be clear about what those specific roles are. Those roles are actually specified in the tongue councils act. The mayor is the chief executive. According to the legislation of the council, and so the administrator is required to answer to the mayor on any decisions taken or any actions taken– a discussion that should happen with the mayor. This issue is a matter to be resolved by the congregate on console itself. The act itself empowers them to, to address it and I’m quite sure that they will. We are in contact with it, but we can’t do their job for them. They have been elected by their residents. They are a council, they are empowered by law to address these matters, and so it is, something that they need to deal with. And we are very reluctant to intervene when, really it is something within their prerogative. These are matters that are constantly before the councils and they’re tabled and discussed at council meetings. And so I think the representations that have been made in the media and on social media are completely unnecessary. These are things that – it’s a day-to-day thing that happens in the lives of councils.”

 

Marion Ali

“Are they inaccurate?”

 

Valentino Shal

“Absolutely. I understand from the console that Mr. Pettilo is the town administrator is back in office.”