A long-serving chief executive of Western Australia’s Goldfields council has been suspended amid growing concerns about the organisation’s workplace culture.

Shire of Coolgardie councilors voted to suspend James Trail at a special council meeting held on Thursday pending an investigation into the so far unfounded allegations.

“This investigation will address the allegations against the CEO,” County Chairman Malcolm Cullen said in a statement following the meeting.

“All parties involved will have the opportunity to participate in this investigation.

The move comes amid a series of complaints about working conditions at the council which have attracted the attention of the authorities.

The ABC sent a detailed list of questions to the county about the complaints last week, but had not received a response until notification of Mr Trail’s suspension today.

“In the interest of transparency and stability of the board, this investigation is necessary,” the statement said.

“Our staff will work to continue to provide services at a level that meets community expectations while the investigation is ongoing.

“The county is confident that the inquiry will allow all allegations to be fully considered and will allow all parties to be dealt with fairly and in a fair manner.”

The ABC has contacted Mr Trail for comment.

Department aware of the issues

A spokesman for Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley said her department was aware of the complaints in the county.

“The Department for Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSCI) has been monitoring issues in the Shire of Coolgardie for some time, providing support and advice,” the spokesperson said.

“I have been informed that these investigations are ongoing.

“Given the specific statutory responsibilities I have as Local Government Minister, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on this matter.

“However, as Minister for Local Government, my expectation and the community’s expectation is that local authorities focus on delivering important local services and act in ways that are productive, respectful and reflect positively on their community.”

Previous history with the corruption watchdog

In 2012, Mr Trail was sacked from his role as chief executive of the Shire of Kalamunda for misconduct and was the subject of a Corruption and Crime Commission investigation.

That investigation found he received undeclared gifts from a software company and purchased products for the board beyond the approved financial limit.

But Mr Trail was never charged with corruption and told the ABC last year that the Shire of Coolgardie was fully aware of his history when he was hired, initially as a management consultant and then interim CEO in 2016.

His administration was later scrutinized by the Department for Local Government in 2020 following allegations that he used his position to benefit himself or another person by awarding county contracts.

The department also investigated allegations that Mr Trail overstepped boundaries and “pursued his own agenda”.

But a three-year investigation found “no obvious suspicious financial activity” or violations of bidding practices.

Speaking to the ABC following that inquest, Mr Trail said he had been “vindicated”.

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He said the previous allegations from Kalamunda have followed him throughout his career.

“When you google James Trail (that’s what you find), but what it doesn’t say is that I was in court and I wasn’t charged with corruption.

“I’ve lived with it for 10 years and my family has … so now we can get on with business … both for me and for the council, it’s a relief and a vindication.”