The Shire of Capel council is set to consider the need for an urgent review of the chief executive officer's performance on Tuesday, January 14.
The meeting was originally called by shire president Michael Southwell on January 7, but was later adjourned.
As part of the original motion, councillor Southwell recommended that council engage an independent consultant to conduct a formal review of Mr McCabe's performance.
Just over 24 hours later, eight councillors and several members of the public entered council chambers to discuss the motion.
Shire of Capel resident Christine Terrantroy took to the podium to question the decision to hold a meeting regarding Mr McCabe's performance without any formal complaints having been made as well as the amount of public notice given for the meeting.
Councillor Southwell said the Local Government Act did not require notice of a special meeting and that the shire had tried to give as much notice as it could.
During the meeting, councillor Southwell said the motion had been prompted by the chief executive officer's failure to implement a recent decision of council.
Councillor Southwell also alleged that the chief executive officer had edited a letter he had written to a local member of state parliament.
"I was surprised, to say the least, that it had been edited before being sent," he said.
"I think that even if it was one word that had been changed... it shouldn't happen."
The council voted to move behind closed doors, as the motion involved information of a confidential nature.
Members of the gallery were invited back into the council chambers only to be told the meeting had been adjourned because Mr McCabe had had a bereavement in his family.
"The chief executive officer had a bereavement in his family and so it was felt that it was untimely for us to engage in this debate at this time," councillor Southwell said.
"At this stage, he has taken a few days off. We thought that it would be sensitive for us to put it aside until that time has passed."
The motion will now be dealt with a meeting on January 14.
Mr McCabe was contacted by the Busselton-Dunsborough Mail, however, he said he was not in a position to comment on the matter at this time.
