Orimattila mayor calls temporary committee’s work illegal

Orimattila city manager Kalle Larsson has denied giving the city council false information regarding preparations for the sale of a health centre property, according to a 16-page statement submitted to a temporary committee investigating his dismissal.

Larsson, who also provided the document to Yle, stated that the allegations against him lack support in the documentation used to justify his proposed termination. His lawyer, acting on his behalf, signed the statement, which argues that the committee’s procedure is unlawful and has violated Larsson’s rights.

The statement claims the process contains so many errors that even restarting it would not ensure impartial handling. It accuses the committee of asking leading and biased questions to his detriment, emphasizing that Larsson’s actions aimed to benefit the city and its municipal group.

Larsson said the health centre property sale was intended to balance the city’s finances and avoid tax increases for residents. He also noted that Orimattilan Yrityskiinteistöt Oy had prior knowledge of the sale’s preparation and price before the city board’s decision.

On Tuesday, the city board supplemented its earlier statement to the committee following new information, proposed by deputy chair Johanna Ekman (Finns Party) and supported by five other members. Three members opposed the addition.

Ekman said the board received new material, including email correspondence between the wellbeing services county and the city manager, as well as broader transcripts of the committee’s hearings. According to the board, the emails show that the request to retain the health centre at least until 2026 for preparedness reasons came from the wellbeing services county, contradicting the committee’s conclusion that the county had no objections to the sale and that Larsson himself had proposed cancelling it.

“I see this as a rapidly changing situation where the city manager did his best, as the email exchange shows,” Ekman said.

The city board argues the committee selectively used information, omitted facts supporting Larsson, and disregarded evidence. It also considers the committee’s work biased, stating the outcome was predetermined and the process sought justification for that decision.

“We feel the administrative review took a backseat to gathering evidence for the city manager’s dismissal,” Ekman said.

City board chair Tuomo Jussila (National Coalition Party), one of three who voted against the supplementary statement, said the new information did not change the situation. Four board members had earlier been prepared to align with the committee’s view.