Politicians at a local authority have passed a vote of no confidence in their chairperson after her dog bit a member of staff.

The special meeting of Castletown Commissioners was called this week at the request of the majority of the board and the vote against chairwoman Carol Quine was moved by commissioner Jimmy Cubbon.

The vote came following a dog-bite incident within the town hall, that prompted the board to write to Ms Quine requesting her resignation.

She refused, something which Mr Cubbon condemned, saying: ’Many members sought transparency as a key element in their manifestos and a failure to acknowledge a majority decision by fellow board members is unacceptable and non democratic.’

A statement released by the authority reads: ’On August 26, an employee of the commissioners was bitten by a dog that had been brought into the town hall by the chairman.

’The employee remains away from work and unable to perform their normal duties.

’As this incident occurred in the workplace, the matter has been duly reported to the Health and Safety at Work inspectorate.

’On September 20, the board unanimously resolved to write to the chairman requesting her immediate resignation.

’The board considered that the matter was an ill judged and entirely avoidable episode, which in addition to injury being sustained by an employee, placed the Castletown Town Commissioners at potential reputational and financial risk.

’Members did not consider that the chairman’s response to the incident had been appropriate, either in the capacity as chairman of Castletown Town Commissioners, or as the owner of the animal.

’Owing to the lack of response from the chairman at the close of business last week, Mr Cubbon brought notice of motion that a vote of no confidence in the chairman be held at the earliest opportunity.

’The motion was moved last night and members unanimously supported the motion of no confidence.’

The extraordinary meeting apparently lasted less than five minutes, according to newly-elected MHK for Arbory, Castletown and Malew, Tim Glover.

Mr Glover tweeted, saying: ’Vote of no confidence in chair passed in four mins - concerned as need to work together!’

elections

Ms Quine was elected to chair the board following the local elections in July.

Seven commissioners were elected, and she came fifth in the poll, with 366 votes.

She has previously stood in two House of Keys elections, firstly in 2011 as an independent candidate, and then again in 2016 as a candidate for the Manx Labour Party.

On Tynwald Day in 2016 she co-presented two petitions of grievance at Tynwald Hill - one to overturn the decision to make the over 75s pay for a TV licence, and one to overturn the decision to make pensioners pay for tram and train travel.

The Manx Independent attempted to contact Ms Quine for comment, but was unsuccessful.