At the Ordinary meeting last week there was some competition for the appointment of another Councillor to the four-person interview panel. Both councillor West and councillor Chalk were nominated.

Since November last year when Council decided not to renew the CEO’s employment contract, there have been great differences of opinion on anything to do with the recruitment of the new CEO, including the choice of recruitment firm, the choice of external member, the new position description, how future performance reviews will be undertaken, and last week, the last Councillor to be placed on this panel.

The Mayor, Cr Christensen, Cr West and Cr Enright have mostly supported the views argued by Scenic Rim’s General Manager People and Strategy, whereas Cr McConnell, Cr Chalk and myself, have often shared different views. The same Councillors did not support the original decision to not renew the CEO’s contract, and we remember the extraordinary delay in carrying out Council’s decision to advise the CEO his contract would not be renewed at the end of its term.

Before the vote for the final member last week, Mr Gary Kellar had been appointed as the external member of the panel, after a fierce debate in confidential session, followed by a vote in open session when he was appointed, with the Mayor and Cr Enright voting and speaking against the appointment. 

Mr Kellar comes with vast experience and a contemporary understanding of Local Government and is one of the few people in Queensland that I can remember who have worked in the Local Government for over 40 years. He started off in the Department of Local Government, when I was in my early 20s, became the CEO of Logan City for over 25 years and has worked as a Local Government consultant to scores of Councils and Government Advisory Boards to this day. There is no one better than a highly respected former CEO to guide our panel in its search for a strong and independent leader to guide the Council in future years and ensure your Council is performing at the highest level. 

Last week’s agenda was to appoint one more councillor to the panel. The debate for those supporting Cr West centred around gender diversity. All good arguments followed with the Mayor, Cr Enright, Cr West, and the General Manager People and Strategy supporting gender diversity, meaning Cr West (our only female Councillor) was the only choice. On the opposite side the other Councillors supported Cr Chalk, the youngest councillor, and argued that age diversity was of equal importance. Of course, there were likely many more underlying reasons for each side’s choices other than diversity. Finally, on a vote of four votes to three, Cr Chalk was appointed. 

The Panel chosen now comprises: Mayor Christensen, Deputy Mayor Cr McConnell, Cr Chalk and Mr Gary Kellar who, with the assistance of McAthur Management will choose and interview a shortlist of applicants. 

The final decision will be made by the full Council in a few months’ time. Lately, there is never a dull moment at our Council meetings on this issue.
 
BUDGET DISCUSSIONS ARE CONTINUING
This week Council is finalising its budget and it is likely to be adopted as soon as possible in the next few weeks.

Derek Swanborough
 Councillor. Division 1
 derek.s@scenicrim.qld.gov.au
 Ph 0436 351 567